Charles (Chuck) Cecil Cooksey

Charles (Chuck) Cecil Cooksey, 94, of Fort Smith, Ark., died Saturday, March 16, 2013. He was born March 20, 1918, in Low Gap, Ark., to the late William A. Cooksey and Jettie M. Cooksey.

He was a retired bus driver for Jefferson Lines and the U.S. Army Reserve. He was an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Florence Harris Cooksey. He is survived by his wife, Mary Imelda Cooksey; a daughter Linda Berkowitz (Jim) of Fayetteville, Ga., and three sons, Bill Stanton (Mary Jo) of Sherwood, Ark.; Mike Stanton (Trish) of Fort Smith, Ark.; and Pat Stanton (Donna) of Fort Smith, Ark.; nine grandchildren: Jay Berkowitz, Kyle Berkowitz, Abbe Fenimore, Jenny Zerbe, Caleb Stanton, Caitlin Taylor, Colin Stanton, Cody Stanton, and Loren Stanton; two great-grandchildren Jordyn Berkowitz and Braden Zerbe.

He was an avid golfer and fisherman. He and his wife, Imelda, spent many enjoyable outings together on the golf course and at their favorite fishing spot on Lake Ouachita.

He served in World War II as an enlisted man in an infantry unit as a Platoon Sergeant serving on Palau Island. He received a battlefield commission in New Caledonia in March 1945 and served on the Philippine Islands and occupation duty in Japan as an Infantry Unit Commander. His awards and decorations include: The Bronze Star with "V" device, Combat Infantrymans Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars, and one Bronze Arrowhead, The World War II Victory Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Battle Star.