- Date Of Birth: June 25, 1919
- Date Of Death: April 14, 2009
- State: Idaho
Velda Craven Cook, 89, formerly of San Diego, CA, passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at her home in Eagle.
Velda was born June 25, 1919 in American Fork, Utah, to Harold Hartley and Violet Beckstead Craven, as the youngest of three girls. When Velda was six, her family moved to Mayfield, Kentucky, where her father opened stores for Mr. J.C. Penney, and Velda grew up amid many friends and activities. In Mayfield, Velda also met her lifelong sweetheart, Allen P. Cook, Jr. While Allen attended the U.S. Naval Academy (Class of ’40), Velda’s father retired and the family moved to Glendale, CA, where Velda attended University of Southern California, majoring in sociology.
In the summer of 1941, Allen, now a commissioned naval officer, was stationed on the USS NEVADA (BB36) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Velda moved to Honolulu to work and be near him, and both were at Pearl Harbor during the attack there. They married December 16, 1941, as the United States entered World War II. They have many stories to tell of the attack, the clean-up afterward, and other World War II experiences. Velda and Allen were often separated months at a time while Allen served his country as a naval officer, but shore duty was always sweet.
Velda was a naval officer’s wife for thirty years, moving the family from coast to coast as Allen’s career directed. They made many friends and enjoyed many wonderful experiences during these years, including the formal career military traditions then practiced.
In 1970, they retired from the military in San Diego, CA, where Allen had been assigned as Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Station 32nd Street. They then began a ‘second life’ of travelling the country in their RVs for several months each year, returning to their home in the San Diego area each fall.
Allen passed away in 2005, and Velda moved to the Boise, Idaho area in 2007 to be near her family here. In the past year, Velda, though blind, has also completed over 80 fleece blankets for homeless children and their families in the Boise area. She says hers has been “a rich and wonderful life”.
Velda was preceded in death by her parents; both sisters; many dear friends; and her sweetheart of 68 years. She is survived by her two daughters, Charlotte (Terrill) Howard of Eagle, ID, and Elisabeth Sullivan of Portland, Oregon; seven grandchildren, C. Allen Howard of Austin, TX, James Howard of Saratoga Springs, UT, Tim Sullivan of Vancouver, WA, Matt Howard of Eagle, ID, Kevin Sullivan of Cupertino, CA, Marci H. May of Donnelly, ID, and Anna Howard of Eagle, ID. She is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren. All are greatly loved.
The family wishes especially to thank the kind and loving staff of the Eagle Spring Creek Manor, where Velda has lived during the past year.
