Submitted by:  Dan Rich

Harold L. Cooke

April 30, 1918 - Jan. 26, 1998

South Bend Tribune 1/28/1998

Mr. Harold L. ''Hal'' Cooke, 79, residing on East Victoria Street, South Bend, Ind., passed away following a brief illness at 1:46 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, in Memorial Hospital. Mr. Cooke was retired from Walt Disney Studios, Burbank, Calif., where he served as a scene and prop painter. He also was the former owner of Frazier Park Photo in Frazier Park, Calif. He was born on April 30, 1918, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Edward H. and Edna (Samuel) Cooke. He grew up in South Bend, having graduated from Central High School in 1937. He was first employed with the South Bend News Times as a copy boy and cub reporter.

On June 13, 1941, in Houston, Texas, he was inducted into military service, having served in the Army Air Corps-Air Force until 1955. He received the Presidential Unit Citation Air Medal with two Oakleaf Clusters, and the Prisoner of War Medal plus Campaign Medal. He was a member of Michiana Chapter of POW and POW Indiana Dunes Chapter, along with Disabled American Veterans Chapter #6. In 1989, he published a book entitled ''It All Began...'' a true story of Wartime Combat and the Prisoner-Of-War Experience.

For many years he attended the University of Southern California, Northridge, taking night classes and graduating with a Bachelor's degree in psychology. Upon returning to Indiana, he served as an usher at the University of Notre Dame for many years.

Mr. Cooke is survived by two daughters, Candace A. Cooke of Gaston, Ore., and Connie Van Nevel of Granger, Ind.; two sons, Craig Cooke of Mishawaka and Christopher Mark Cooke of Los Angeles, Calif.; three grandchildren, Kelly, Kari and K.J. Van Nevel; two sisters, Leanore Muller of South Bend and Beth Mooney-Bersell of Los Angeles, Calif.; and by a niece, Kay Anthony of Ft. Jones, Calif.

Services for Mr. Cooke will be at 7 p.m. on Friday in the Palmer Funeral Home, 2528 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend. Rev. Don Francis will officiate. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be offered in Mr. Cooke's name to the Disabled American Veterans, 807 Maine Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024.