1923 – 2003

SCARBOROUGH – Frank T. Cook of Saco, and formerly of South Portland, died Thursday at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough.

Cook was born in South Portland, son of Frank M. and Lulu B. Ormsby Cook and was educated in the South Portland Schools. He graduated from South Portland High School in 1941. He later attended the University of Southern Maine taking real estate and appraising courses.

During World War II he served in the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division/Glider Infantry. He fought during the invasion of Normandy, the invasion of Holland and the Battle of the Bulge, and was a Purple Heart recipient.

Frank was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 31 years, retiring in 1979. After completing his classes at the University of Southern Maine he became a real estate agent and an appraiser. During the 1970s he trained obedience dogs for Vacationland Obedience Training Club for 10 years. In the 1980s he became interested in woodcraft and ran the Cascade Brook Woodcraft.

He was a member of the VFW Post, Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion, all of Saco, the Masons, Hiram Lodge Number 180 A.F. & A.M. and the Kora Temple Shrine. During the 1970s he was also a member of the Maine Masters Running Club and ran in the first Portland marathon. He was an avid outdoorsman spending time with his family and friends hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed golf and shot a hole in one at Martindale in Auburn.

Predeceasing him were two brothers, Donald and Merle Cook, two sisters, Edith Durgin and Ethelyn Robinson and a grandson Zachary Norkus.

Surviving is his wife Mary of Saco; a son, Michael F. Cook of Farmington; two daughters, Christine A. Cook of Lewiston; and Jane E. Norkus of Saco; three sisters, Alice Leighton of Cape Elizabeth, Dorothy Johnson and Bernice Vance of South Portland; four grandchildren, Betsy A. Cook and Scott M. Cook of Farmington and Jeromy T. Norkus and Thad M. Norkus of Saco; and a great grandson, Noah O. Norkus of Saco.

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