WILLIAM STANFORD (RED) COOK, 78 years of age of Vansant, VA, passed away Thursday, September 11, 2008. Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Emory Cook and Maggie Smith Cook Rife. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and was 1 of the 12 founding members of the Vansant Church of Christ. Mr. Cook was baptized with his wife, Mary, April 1, 1955 at the Grundy Church of Christ. He was an Elder at Vansant Church of Christ and was a Sunday School Teacher for the Men’s Class for over 40-Years.

Mr. Cook served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict (1951-1952). He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather. Red was a member of the Brotherhood Maintenance Way and worked for Norfolk & Southern where he was a machine operator, assistant foreman and roadmaster.

Mr. Cook is survived by his wife, Mary Lee Vandyke Cook, Vansant, VA, 3-Sons: Bill and wife Chris Cook, Vansant, VA, Jimmy Wayne and wife Sherry Cook, Vansant, VA, Philip Barry Cook and fiancé Berneda Gillespie, Vansant, VA, 2-Sisters: Ruby and husband Donald Deel, Roseville, MI, Ola Gay and husband Robert Yates, Ocala, FL, 1-Brother: Emory Jr. and wife Janice Cook, Nokesville, VA, 1-Granddaughter: Sommer Dawn Cook and husband Brandon Belcher, Vansant, VA

Funeral Services for WILLIAM STANFORD (RED) COOK will be conducted Sunday, September 13, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evg. Mike Rife, Evg. Jerry Bliffen and Evg. Dennis Wimmer officiating with burial to follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, VA.

Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Saturday evening at 6:00 P.M. with services at 7:00 P.M.

Active Pallbearers will be: Elders & Deacons of the Vansant Church of Christ, Arthur Woods and Charles Horn.

Honorary Pallbearers will be: Men of the Vansant Church of Christ.

Full Military Rites will be conducted at the cemetery by members of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion.

The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to the Church of Christ Youth Camp, Box 197, Vansant, VA  24656, Looney Mexico Mission, Box 250, Vansant, VA  24656, and Mountain Mission School, 1760 Edgewater Dr., Grundy, VA  24614.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.