Ronald "Ronnie" Thomas Cook

Ronald Thomas Cook (Ronnie) of Candler, North Carolina, 78 years of age, passed away at the Asheville VA hospital on August 6, 2025. Ronnie was born May 25, 1947, in Union, South Carolina to Thomas E. Cook, Jr. and Jessie Sims Cook.

Ronnie served four years with the US Navy, with his last assignment serving aboard the USS Ogden during the Vietnam war. He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was a member of VFW Post 891 in Leicester.

After the military, Ronnie was a carpenter by trade and later owned several businesses. He loved to fish and hunt, and often took his grandchildren fishing.

Ronnie is preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister Sandra Cook Blaine Pacheco. He is survived by his wife, Betty King Cook, daughters Terri Plemmons and Tina Cook, sisters Carol Ann Cook Craig and Anita Cook Holcombe; nieces Jennifer Blaine Inman, Pamela Lindsay-Nichols, and Cindy Lindsay Laub, and several great nieces and nephews; grandchildren Dylan Plemmons, Jessica Amos, Mimry Whiteman, Madison Treadway and five great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Susie Webb, Pat Williams, Sheila Dowong, and brother-in-law Philip King. He is also survived by stepsons Mark and Marty King; grandchildren Jani Gerstine, Austin and Nichole King, Jared King and two great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ronnie’s memory to the Vietnam Veterans of America - VVA.org

A celebration of life will be held on October 25th. 2025 at 1pm at the Penland Family Funeral Home, 125 South Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778.

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