Joseph Preston "Bud" Cook

Mr. Joseph Preston "Bud" Cook, age 84 of Duluth, passed away Friday January 20, 2017 at Union General Hospital. Mr. Cook was born October 23, 1932 in Suches, GA to the late Rufus and Nora Davenport Cook. Bud was a former member and deacon of Antioch Baptist Church. After High School, he joined the US Air Force where he served his country for 22 years attaining the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. During his years with the Air Force, he was selected to serve with the White House Communication Agency during the Nixon and Ford Administrations. After retiring from the Air Force, Bud went back to school and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business. He briefly worked as a parole officer in Gainesville before being hired as director of Trackrock Industries in Blairsville. Later he worked for Scientific Atlanta until his second retirement. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed hiking in his beloved North Georgia Mountains. Bud was preceded in death by Brothers, James Donald Cook and Charles Waymon Cook and nephew, Brent Dean.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Marie Cook of Duluth, daughter, Michelle (Terry) Ingram of Young Harris, daughter, Valerie C. (Craig) Dyer of Young Harris, step-daughter, Paula (David) Court of Atlanta, step-son, Scott (Ramanda) Hughes of Blairsville, sister, Carolyn (Olin) Dean of Valley, AL; grandchildren, Isaac Joseph Ingram, Miranda Totherow, Claudia Court, Trevor Hughes, and Kyra Hughes; great-grandchildren, Jace Totherow, Jaxon Totherow, Miya Totherow, and Jep Lance; and nieces, Caren Hill, Cheryl Gilbert, Christy McGuffey, amd Allison Edge.

Funeral services are scheluled for Monday, January 23, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory of Blairsville with the Rev. Jimmy Rogers and the Rev. Scotty Jarrard officiating. Music will be provided by Danita Kennedy, Debbie Owenby, Tonya Woodard, Tommy and Susan Murphy and Patsy Phillips. Interment will follow in the Harmony Grove Baptist Church Cemetery . Pallbearers: Terry Ingram, Craig Dyer, Scott Hughes, Justin Lance, Dexter Shook, Charles Hood, and Jaxon Totherow. Honorary pallbearers: Isaac Ingram, Jace Totherow, Melvin Cook, and Olin Dean.

The family will receive friends at the Cochran Funeral Home Monday, January 23, 2017, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm.

Arrangements entrusted to the Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville, Georgia. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.