Lifelong Bluffton resident Richard Ray Cookson, 96 died at 3:30 a.m. Oct. 15, 2012, at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. He was born Jan. 6, 1916, in Orange Township, Hancock County to Clarence and Mabel (Anderson) Cookson. 

At the age of two his father died in the 1918 flu epidemic. His sister Carol was six months old. Eventually his mother sold the farm and purchased a home in Bluffton.

Mr. Cookson graduated from Bluffton High School in 1934. He married Betty Jean Neuenschwander May 9, 1943, and she survives. They have two sons Richard Lee (Elise) Cookson of Houston, Texas, and Kenneth Ray (Eloise) Cookson of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; three grandchildren Brian (Barbara) Cookson of Kansas City, Mo., Sara (Jim) Walters of Austin, Texas, and John Richard Cookson of New York City, N.Y.; four great grandchildren Emma Cardinalo, Audrey Walters and Claire Walters all of Austin, Texas, and Alexandria Cookson of Kansas City, Mo.; and a brother-in-law-Allison (Gloria) Neuenschwander of Beaverdam.

A sister Carol Patterson and brother-in-law Charles Patterson preceded Richard in death.
While in high school, Richard worked for Charles Hankish.The business sold ice cream, homemade candy, sodas, and was a Bluffton institution for persons of that generation.

After graduation Mr. Cookson worked for C.J. Niswander and Harvester Company until the beginning of World War II. He then worked for Lima Locomotive Works inspecting army tanks.

Mr. Cookson was a member of First United Methodist Church, Bluffton.  He was a World War II veteran and served with the 65th Division in Patton’s 3rd Army in the European Theatre where he received the Bronze Star. He served from December,1943, to May, 1946.
He was a Marathon Distributor in Bluffton for 35 years. He was a Cub Scout Master for eight years and was awarded the Silver Beaver in Scouting. He also served on the Putnam Council and the District Council, Findlay.

Mr. Cookson was a Bluffton Lions Club member for 60 years.  He was a past member of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce, a deputy registrar, member of the American Legion Post #382, Bluffton, Masonic Lodge #432, Scottish Rite, Valley of Toledo, member of Bluffton Senior Citizens Association and served on the Board of the Allen County Council on Aging. He also volunteered at Bluffton Hospital.

In 2005 Richard and his wife, Betty, received the Citizens of the year award by the Bluffton Lions Club. Mr. Cookson had been cross-stitching many beautiful quilts in his retirement.

Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.  Rev. Bryant Miller officiating. Burial will be in Hasson Cemetery, Orange-Van Buren Township. 

Visitation will be Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, Bluffton Senior Citizens Center or Maple Crest.

Condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.