Obituary of Franklin J. Cookingham

Franklin J. Cookingham Franklin J. Cookingham, a resident of the Town of Wappinger, entered into rest, Thursday, July 17, 2008 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie. He was 82. Son of the late Vernon and Minnie Lawrence Cookingham, he was born October 10, 1925 in Pine Plains. On September 7, 1946 he married the former Mildred Moyer in Amenia Union. Mrs. Cookingham survives at home in Wappingers Falls. He proudly served his country during World War II in the United States Army, 103 Infantry Division. While fighting in Vogues, France he stepped on a land mine and lost his leg on November 30, 1944. He was honorably discharged on October 10, 1945. He earned numerous medals including the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon with One Bronze Campaign Star, the Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Purple Heart. Mr. Cookingham worked at IBM, Poughkeepsie for 35 years prior to his retirement. He was proud to have worked on the first mainframes. He was a member of the South Amenia Presbyterian Church, the American Legion in Arlington and Dover, the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the IBM Quarter Century Club. He also enjoyed golfing, fishing and deer hunting. In addition to his wife of sixty-one years, Mildred E. Cookingham, he is survived by his children, L. Peter Cookingham and his wife, June of West Edmenston, New York, Gail Seymour and her husband, James of Poughkeepsie, Joann McQuade and her husband, John of Rimrock, Arizona, Donna Smith and her husband, Randy of Salisbury, North Carolina, F. Jay Cookingham and his companion, Barbara Meade of Nichols, New York and Andrew Cookingham and his wife, Stefani of Essex Junction, Vermont; his sisters, Fannie Place of Pine Plains, Alice Chase and Marion Peterson both of Sharon, Connecticut; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by seven brothers and two sisters. A graveside service will be held at 11 am on Monday, July 21, 2008 at South Amenia Cemetery, Amenia Union Road, Wassaic, NY In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made the American Heart Association, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, New York 13220-3049. To send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.