Richard “Dick” W. Cook

FAYETTE – Richard “Dick” W. Cook, 81, died Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. He was born in Lewiston, on June 27, 1943, son of the late Wilfred and Blanche (Cook) Provencher. He attended Lewiston High School before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1964.

Dick deployed to Vietnam as part of the 1st Expeditionary Forces and where his fluency in French was of high value in communicating with the Vietnamese. He was honorably discharged in 1967. Upon returning stateside, Dick worked briefly for his hometown law enforcement before he enlisted in the Maine State Police on February 24, 1969 as a member of the 27th Training Troop. From Troop C he was promoted to Detective Corporal assigned to CID 1 (Criminal Investigations Division). As a detective, he liaised with the Augusta Mental Health Institute and the Attorney General’s Office in Lewiston working with the Abused Women Project. He was assigned to the Governor’s Security detail, serving primarily for Governor McKernan. He retired as a Detective Corporal on Feb. 1, 1991. He served a brief time with the United States Secret Service on the Presidential Protection detail, guarding President George H. W. Bush in Kennebunkport. For several years, he owned a private investigation and security business. More recently, he worked in the Lewiston Court system and in the Civil Division of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Dick was an active member of Penney Memorial United Baptist Church in Augusta, where he served on several committees and enjoyed singing in the choir for many years. He was part of the Board of the Salvation Army and he often volunteered as a bell ringer during the Christmas season. He was a founding board member of the Good Shepherd Learning Center. 

First out the door to help a neighbor, Dick was also known for his generosity and ready wit; he set up elaborate Christmas decorations in his home and at church for all to enjoy and for many years he dressed as Santa Claus for children. He was devoted to his grandchildren, a world-class whistler, a car enthusiast, enjoyed boating and loved all animals. He took the call to serve others as his life’s mission, literally giving coats off his back. 

Dick is survived by his wife of 34 years, Joan (Anderson) Cook of Fayette; sons, Richard W. Cook, Jr. and his wife Catherine, of Goffstown, N.H., and Robin D. Cook and his fiance Lisa Henchel, of Manchester; daughters: Erin Heilig and her husband Tom Ross of Wilmington, Del. and Joy Powell and her husband Duncan Widdoes of Spokane, Wash.; a stepsister, Rita Cribbin and her husband Michael of Greene; grandchildren: Aaron, Ashley, Robin Jr. and Nathan; great grandchildren, Micheala, Abigail and Sullivan and other extended family.

Relatives and friends may visit on Thursday, January 30, from 4-7 p.m., at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 31, at 10 a.m., at Penney Memorial United Baptist Church, Water St., Augusta. Burial will take place at the new Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mt. Vernon Rd., Augusta.

Condolences, stories and photos are welcome and may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Dick’s memory be made to: the Cullen Fund at Penney Memorial United Baptist Church in Augusta, the Kennebec Valley Humane Society and the Maine Veterans Homes.