PRESTON HOLLOW — Dwight G. Cooke was a man of constant commitments — to his fire company, his church, his cemetery association, and most of all to his family. He died on Friday, March 1, 2019, at St. Peter’s Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was 78.

A lifelong resident of Preston Hollow, Mr. Cooke was born at his family home on July 29, 1940 to the late Harold G. and Hilda L. Winans Cooke. After graduating from high school, he became a truck driver for the town of Rensselaerville, where he worked for most of his career. He also worked as a dairy farmer.

He was a life member of the Tri-Village Volunteer Fire Company, where he served as president for over 20 years. He was a member of the Brookside Cemetery Association, having served as president for over 10 years, and was a faithful congregant of the Preston Hollow Baptist Church.

“Dwight loved his lawn, his vehicles, wood-working, country music, square dancing, and the Yankees,” his family wrote in a tribute. “He was a quiet man, whose greatest loves in life were his family: his wife of 56 years, his children, and his grandchildren.”

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Dwight G. Cooke is survived by his beloved wife, Sheila A. Wood Cooke, and by his children, Sandra Sala and her husband, Carl; Holly Hunziker and her husband, Robert; D. Taylor Cooke and his wife, April; Tiffany Houghtaling and her husband, Vincent; and Kelly Harriman and her husband, Scott.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Daniel Sala and his wife, Lacey and Jeremy Sala, Ryan Cooke and his wife, Camryn, Brooke and Cody Houghtaling, and Vanessa and Jacob Harriman; by his great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Eric Heath; by his brother, Barry Cooke and his wife, Sally; and by many nieces and nephews.

His parents, Harold G. and Hilda L. Winans Cooke, died before him, as did his grandsons, Dylan and Lucas Hunziker, and his brother, Robert Cooke.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 10, at 2 p.m. at the Preston Hollow Baptist Church. Friends and family are welcome to gather together at 1 p.m. before the service. Mourners may post condolences at ajcunninghamfh.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to either the Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 (parkinson.org), or to the Tri-Village Volunteer Fire Company, Post Office Box 575, Preston Hollow, NY 12469.