Frances Rose Cook, 64, of Colonial Beach, passed away peacefully at Mary Washington Hospital on January 17, 2017. Her death was unexpected, but even as she faced the end of her life, she cared more about the feelings of others than she did about herself. Frances and her husband, Ralph, had lived in their home in Colonial Beach since 2000. Prior to that time, they lived in Centreville, VA and visited the beach on weekends. While living in Colonial Beach, Frances became a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary and the Women of the Moose.

Frances was born in Belhaven, NC, the daughter of Benjamin and Lois Rose. She graduated from Pantego High School, Pitt Community College and Strayer University, where she earned a BS degree in Information Systems.

Frances’s career started with the State of North Carolina Division of Social Service, where she worked for 20 years. In 1992, Frances and her soon-to-be husband, Ralph, moved to Northern Virginia, where she started working as a software engineer in the defense intelligence community. An early expert on web development, Frances quickly became a Web Master at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, VA. She retired from Booz Allen Hamilton in 2014 while working at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center, located in King George, VA.

Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Lois Rose. She is survived by her husband of over 20 years, Ralph Cook; her sisters, Margaret Mayo and Louise Jordan (Joe); brother, Benny Rose (Sharon); many nieces and nephews; and her “bird children,” Dorian, Lucy and Bobbi Angel. A memorial service will be held at Storke Funeral Home, Nash and Slaw Chapel, in Colonial Beach on February 3rd at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Project Perry, INC., P.O. Box 1208, Louisa, Va. 23093, phone: (540) 967-0447. Online condolences may be left for the family at storkefuneralhome.com.