Dennis Owen Cook

Dennis Owen Cook died peacefully on February 8, 2026. He was born in Rensselaer, Indiana on October 28, 1947, to Samuel R. Cook, Sr. and Eldora J. “Dori” Cook. He was a graduate of Upper Arlington High School. Dennis bravely served his country in the 196th U.S. Army Light Infantry Brigade in 1969-70 during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged from Fort Gordon Army Base in Georgia, where he served as a Platoon Sergeant.

He returned to Marietta where he met his future wife, Wendy Ann Barry, at her job at the front desk of the YMCA. They married in May 1971 and spent 49 happy years together until her death in 2020. Dennis earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Marietta College then purchased Glenn’s Food and operated two “Hasty Shopper” convenience stores in Harmar Village and Devola.

Dennis kept the Cook family tradition of serving the local and global community. He served on the board of the Red Cross and Easter Seals and as the Board President of the Marietta YMCA. He was the President of the Rotary Club of Marietta and served as the District Governor of District 6690, after which he served several years as District Treasurer. Dennis and Wendy loved their service to Rotary International and Dennis was honored as a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

Dennis had a beautiful bass voice and enjoyed entertaining audiences, large and small, with the Sternwheelers Barbershop Quartet. His second favorite pastime was working outdoors on his farm in Lowell, Ohio. His first favorite pastime was eating his wife Wendy’s chocolate chip cookies.

Dennis was predeceased by his parents and his older brother, Samuel Ronald Cook, Jr. He is survived by his sister Anita Cook Motil (Joseph), his sister-in-law, Janice Cook, his annoying little sister, Colleen Cook (Ted Mahone), his sisters-in-law, Philla Kirkpatrick and Kathy McKitrick, and his brother-in-law, Ed Barry. He was loved and respected by his many nieces and nephews. Dennis set a powerful example of faith, service, honor and integrity.

The Cook family is grateful to the skilled and compassionate medical providers and caregivers who cared for Dennis along his journey, including Memorial Health System, Marietta VA Clinic, The Pines, Harmar Place and Amedysis.

A memorial service for Dennis will be held on February 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Marietta Chapel of Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home, 408 Front St., Marietta, OH 45750 with full military honors. Calling hours will be held on Friday, February 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. At a later date, he will be buried in the New St. Mary Cemetery. Memorial gifts to honor Dennis’s life may be made to Marietta Rotary Foundation, c/o Peoples Bank, 138 Putnam Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750.

CAWLEY & PEOPLES FUNERAL HOME OF MARIETTA is honored to serve the Cook family and offers online condolences as well as many other resources by visiting www.CawleyandPeoples.com or by following their Facebook page.