Anne Cooke

Mathews, Virginia

Anne Brown Rawn "Becky" Cooke of Mathews, Virginia died Friday, August 8, 2014 at her home. She was 96 years old. Born February 1, 1918, in Huntington, West Virginia, she was the daughter of Andrew Bryson Rawn and Elsa Brown Rawn, and sister of Andrew Bryson Rawn, Jr. all deceased. She was a graduate of Huntington High School, Gunston Hall School in Washington, D.C. and Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio and also attended Marshall College in Huntington. Before marriage, she worked for the American Red Cross, Washington, D.C. She was married May 10, 1947 to John Warren Cooke at Trinity Episcopal Church, Foster, Virgina. Mr. Cooke died November 28, 2009 at the age of 94. Mrs. Cooke was a member of Kingston Episcopal Parish, Mathews, Virginia and the board of directors of Tidewater Newspapers, Inc., Gloucester, VA. She was a driving force in saving and restoration of the Tompkins Cottage, Mathews C.H. in the 1960s, after the county purchased the property and the old house on it with the intention to use it for parking. She was a former member of the Mathews County Historical Society, St. Andrews Guild of Kingston Parish, Mathews County Woman's Club and the Garden Club of Gloucester. She is survived by a son, Giles B. Cooke and his wife, Diane Noland Cooke of Silver Springs, MD; a daughter, Elsa Cooke Verbyla and her husband Paul Verbyla of Mathews, VA. Other survivors include her nephews, Andy Rawn and wife Irmgard of Pacific Palisades, California and Harvey Rawn and wife Suz of Somis, California and their families. A Graveside Service will be held at 1:30 pm on Monday, August 11, 2014 at Ware Episcopal Church, Gloucester, Virginia. The family will receive friends at the family home in Mathews Court House. It was Mrs. Cooke's wish that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to the charity of your choice.