PERSONAL MUSIC HISTORY

• Played French horn in high school

BANDS/GROUPS I HAVE PLAYED OR AM PLAYING IN

• Denton New Horizons Band
• New Horizons Concert Band Dallas
• UpSwing Jazz Orchestra

CAREER/RETIREMENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Retired

FAMILY

• Wife Margaret, daughter Laura

INTERESTS/HOBBIES

• Flying my airplane

OTHER

• I was chauffeur for LBJ in 1960

Obituary

Phil Cook was born November 9, 1934, in Dallas, Texas and was the second of three sons born to Carroll and Jimmie Cook. A lifelong resident of the Dallas area, Phil was a faithful Baptist and proud Texan. While a student at Crozier Tech High School, Phil met Margaret Hartsell, the love of his life. They married at the age of 18 and celebrated their 70th anniversary on August 14, 2024. They were blessed with two children, Laura and Rod.

Phil served in the Naval Reserves for five years and during that time began his working career. He was a deputy in the Dallas Sheriff’s Office for many years (and notably, regularly escorted Jack Ruby from his jail cell to his trial for shooting Lee Harvey Oswald). His long years of employment also include Zale’s Jewelers, Skillern’s, and Weir’s Furniture Company.

Aviation was a real interest of Phil’s, and after earning his pilot’s license, he became the proud owner of a 1946 Aeronca Champ and enjoyed many years of flying. He traveled to many well-known air shows over the years.

As a music enthusiast, especially loving jazz, Phil started taking lessons on the French horn at the age of 65! With much determination and practice, Phil also learned to play the mellophonium, trumpet and flugelhorn. After a relatively short time, he was playing in the Denton New Horizons Band and the UpSwing Jazz Orchestra. He participated in these organizations for many years and was living his dream.

Phil never met a stranger and was truly interested in the people he met. He was engaging, family oriented, a deacon in the Baptist church he attended, and had a wide repertoire of jokes, which he told perfectly.

Phil is survived by his wife, Margaret Aleta Cook; brother, Nathan Clay Cook (Linda); daughter Laura Cook Walthers (Dennis); grandsons Jake and Dillon Walthers; daughter Rosanne Falcon (Cipi); granddaughter Calleigh Clark, grandson Dylan Kieth Work; nieces Elizabeth Shore and Jennifer Williams, dear friends Robert Aikey and Peggy Diana, and Bob and Vicki Sims, as well as David and Linda Adams and other extended family members and friends who also loved him, were inspired by him and will greatly miss him. In his heavenly home, he joins loved ones including his father Carroll Monroe Cook, mother Jimmie Elkins Cook, brother Carroll Monroe Cook Jr. and son Rod Cook.

Visitation will be held on Monday evening from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Flower Mound Family Funeral Home, at 3550 Firewheel Dr, Flower Mound Texas 75028.

A memorial service will be held the following morning Tuesday the 25th at 10am at the same place.