CHARLES, Barbara E.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, October 07, 2015 Barbara E. Charles (Cooke) Barbara, the youngest of three children born to Harry and Shirley Cooke, entered this world on Nov. 18, 1943, in the Wickenburg Hospital located on West Center Street (Wickenburg Way) where the Soroptomist Thrift Store is today. She attended Wickenburg Elementary School #9 and graduated from Wickenburg High School in 1961. She reigned as the 1961 Miss Gold Nugget over the same year’s Gold Rush Days. After graduation Barbara began working at Mountain States Telephone (now Century Link) in Phoenix. Her first marriage produced two children, and in a second marriage (1965) she gave birth to two more children. Following her divorce in 1977, she became a single mom raising her four children. In 1976 Barbara joined Sir Speedy Printing in Tempe, starting as a typesetter and ending as the office manager. She remained there until 1992 when she joined Bank One (Chase) as a call center supervisor, and later at DHL in the same capacity. Before leaving Arizona she attended Collins College and attained her bachelor’s degree in graphic arts. Barbara then moved to Indiana, where she authored a book “Tekati”; a historical novel about a Japanese American immigrant after World War II. She did her own research to produce this piece of historical fiction. It was published in 2005. In 1979, Barbara accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, whom she faithfully served until her passing. In 2006, she moved to Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico, with friends and became a missionary. She served as director of the children’s ministry and was web/technology guru for the Bajo Sus Alas Christian Center, until her unexpected death on Sept. 18, 2015. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Shirley Cooke of Wickenburg. She is survived by her children, Robert Charles of Arizona, Daniel Charles (Stacey) of Arizona, Michael Charles (Tina) of North Yorkshire, England, and Jennifer Tricou (Phil) of Indiana, as well as her 10 grandchildren. Barbara is also survived by her sister, Patty (Cooke) Doom (Dan) of Wickenburg and brother, Dean Cooke (Genevieve) of Alabama. She had numerous nieces and nephews across the US. Services were held in Camargo where she spent her last, very happy 10 years. The memorial was presided over by her dear friend, Christine Garcia, pastor of the Bajo Sus Alas Christian Center where Barbara attended.