Melvin Ross Cooke, 86, of Hughesville, MD passed away on March 2, 2018 at Sagepoint Senior Living in La Plata, MD. Melvin was born in Washington, DC on March 22, 1931 to the late Charles Ross Cooke and the late Mary Frances Cooke. He is survived by his loving wife, Pauline; sons, Eric Cooke (Tracy) and Jeffrey Cooke (Diana); daughters, Linda Smith and Kathy Thomas(Glenn); 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Melvin attended Chamberlin Vo-Tech in Washington, DC and joined the Navy. He and Pauline married on September 22, 1953 and moved to Hughesville in 1963 where they raised their family. Melvin enjoyed fishing, hunting, farming and bowling in his spare time.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 22nd from 11AM to 1PM at Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, PA (211 St. Mary's Ave., La Plata, MD); where a Funeral Service will also start at 1PM; Interment to follow at 2:30PM at MD Veteran's Cemetery Columbarium (11301 Crain Hwy., Cheltenham, MD). Arrangements by Arehart-Echols Funeral Home.