Charles Leroy Crook

Charles Leroy Crook,83, of Salem, Va., was born in Manhattan, Kansas on June 8, 1942. He passed away on Monday, June 5, 2026, just 3 days shy of his 84th birthday, from heart related issues.

Charles was known as Sonny growing up and Charlie later in life. Charlie graduated from the University of Maryland College of Engineering with a Bachelor's in Science in 1965. Upon graduation, he was hired by IBM as a customer engineer. He was drafted by the Army in 1966 and served two years before being transferred to the reserves for 4 more years and honorably discharged in 1972. IBM held his job for him and counted the years towards his 30 years of employment when he retired in 1995. He repaired computers in the DC area in places like the Pentagon and even once at the White House all while wearing a 3-piece suit.

Charlie lived in Kansas, Nebraska and Minnesota before his move to Maryland and after retirement lived in Delaware, Florida and Virginia. Charlie was a quiet, kind man who loved amateur radio, woodworking, volunteering, reading, computer programming and cats.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Burton and Mildred Pearl Crook; sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Dale Orwig; and his brother, Donald Crook. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Cathy Crook; nephew, Evan Crook (Jacky) and great niece, River; as well his sister's family: Em Orwig, Heather Mawhinney (Nevin), Lauren (Tim) James and Eomer, and Cassie James, Caitlin (Tyler) Mawhinney.

Charlie was a private man about his faith and we pray that he is now in heaven with his family. He requested to not have a service as so many of his friends have passed away or are unable to travel. In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate in his memory to the things he loved doing like amateur radio, Habitat for Humanity, or anything to do with cats.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.johnmoakey.com.