WILLIAMSBURG —
Thomas Glenwood "Bud" Cocking, 98, of Williamsburg, went to be with the Lord Thursday, March 1, 2012, at Hope Village in Williamsburg.
Tom was born Tuesday, April 29, 1913, to the late Thomas and Stella (Bastion) Cocking Sr., in the Houghton/Hancock area of Michigan. From early childhood, Tom started a lifelong love of the woods and lakes. He earned his nickname, "Bud," as a baby. Everyone said his lips were like a rosebud, and the name stuck with him throughout his life.
When Tom was a young boy, his family moved to Kansas, and later back to Michigan; he lived in Flint. He went through school and then on to General Motors Tech. It was in Flint where he met Elizabeth "Betty" Zitterkoph. They married on Saturday, Jan. 4, 1936, also in Flint, and remained a devoted couple for 76 years.
During World War II, he was a tank weld inspector at the Grand Blanc tank plant. Later he was drafted into the U.S. Navy. After the war, Tom became an entrepreneur, working and owning businesses in Flint and Traverse City, as well as several farms in the Flushing area. He and wife, Elizabeth, enjoyed raising Hereford cattle and the supporting crops.
The couple also traveled to the west and northwest Rockies many summers, exploring the National Parks and Canadian Banff area. They later wintered in Florida for many years. Over the years, they owned homes in the Palm Beach and New Port Richey area and spent summers in Indian River. The Cockings moved to the Acme area in 1968, and the couple were longtime members of Central United Methodist Church.
Tom is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Sonia and Wallace Olson, of Acme; his grandchildren, Eric Thomas (Kimberly) Olson, of Holland, and Elizabeth Ann (David) Young, of Acme; and his beloved great-grandchildren, Spencer and Adam Olson, of Holland, and Rachel and Catherine Young, of Acme. He is also survived by nieces and nephews and their families.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elizabeth "Betty"; a sister, Althea Dean; and brother, Robert W. Cocking.
A memorial celebration of Thomas' life will be held in the summer.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Central United Methodist Church or to the Hope Village Chapel Fund.
Please share your memories of Thomas with his family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .
The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Service.