Charles R. Cook

Charles Randolph Cook, known to friends and family as Randy, passed away peacefully after a brief but brutal illness on May 21, 2026. Randy died at his mountain home in the presence of his two most beloved people, his wife Phyllis and his daughter Alexandra.

Randy was born in Chester, South Carolina, to John Edward and Ruby Nell Wallace Cook. During his childhood, Randy’s family moved frequently due to his father’s career in construction, following the buildingof new chemical and textile plants in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The family finally settled in Rowan County, North Carolina, where Randy graduated from West Rowan High School. Randy enjoyed his high school years as an outstanding scholar and athlete. His gridiron glories were often recounted in the Saturday Salisbury Post from which his mother made a scrapbook of his accomplishments. After being awarded the Cannon Scholarship for textile technology and the Daniels Scholarship for his outstanding academic achievement, Randy moved on to North Carolina State University where he earned his B.S. in Textile Technology. Randy was always proud of making the Wolfpack football team as a walk-on and treasured his experience of being coached by the great Lou Holtz. After graduating, Randy enjoyed a career in North Carolina with for nearly fifty years, finally retiring in 2023.

Randy was known for his exceptional intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and thoughtful perspective on the world. His sharp wit and sense of humor brought much joy and laughter to friends and family throughout his life.

Randy was also known for his athletic prowess that led him to enjoy many sports throughout his life. He was always a passionate Wolfpack fan and never missed a football or basketball game. In these later years, he enjoyed thewomen’s Wolfpack basketball. Randy always found joy in watching and participating in sports. He and hiswife Phyllis developed a passion for snow skiing after learning the sport at the age of 40. Their love for skiing led them to Vermont, Colorado,Utah, Nevada, and California for many ski trips with friends and family.

Throughout his textile career, Randy traveled throughout the world to places he had never expectedto visit- Europe, Canada, Israel, South Africa, Great Britain, and Asia. A very picky eater, he had to learn to eat a lot of exotic cuisine and miraculously discovered that he liked many of them. Randy and Phyllis were also able to travel together to Europe,Great Britain and throughout the United States. They loved exploring the world together and made many new friends on their travels.

Randy loved his family passionately. He was dedicated to his wife Phyllis, and his children Michael and Alex. Losing Michael in 2013 was one of the greatest heartaches of his life, but he remained strong and took care of Phyllis and Alex who shared the enormity of this grief as a family. Randy was also preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruby Wallace Cook, and his brothers John and Larry Cook.

Randy leaves behind those who will treasure his memory, his wife Phyllis, his daughter Alexandra, his niece Alesia Burris (David), his nephew John Cook (Kathy), his nephew Sammy, his sister Tracie Porter, and many great nieces and nephews. Randy adored his family, but in later years his great nieces Lila and Rose Garnier brought him special joy. These two little girls adored their energetic and jocose Uncle Randy from the time they were infants.

A Celebration of Life to honor Randy is in the process of being planned, and a date and time are forthcoming.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lymphoma Research Foundation can be made in honor of Randy at the following website: Randy Cook’s fundraising page for Lymphoma Research Foundation

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.