Obituary of Pastor Jack F. Cogar
FRANKFORT/SCHUYLER – Pastor Jack F. Cogar, age 93, of Frankfort, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 28, 2017.
He was born in Gassaway, WV on November 11, 1924, the son of Cecil Clay Cogar and Clara Rebecca (Rose) Cogar. He was educated in Davis Elementary and Gassaway High School, graduating in 1942. He worked for Martin Aircraft Co. and Maryland Drydock Co., in Baltimore, MD, before entering the Army Air Force in 1943. He attended basic training at Amarillo, TX and the Air Force Air Cadet Training program at Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska and was in training to be a pilot. That program was closed and he graduated from Radio/Mechanic School at Sioux Falls, SD and Air Command Gunnery Training School at Yuma, AZ. He served as a Radio/Mechanic/Gunner on B-24 Bombers and as an instructor to French and Chinese students at Scott Field, IL until honorably discharged in 1946. He was married to Emogene Stout, of Frametown, WV, in 1946. He worked as a Store Manager Trainee for Manhood and Brady Firestone Dealer Store in Gassaway, WV. He was a journeyman electrician and operated a radio television appliance service shop in that establishment until 1953. He worked for Conditioned Air, Inc., of Charleston, WV and the United States Government Radar Site near Sissonville, WV and was trained at the York Air Conditioning and Refrigeration plant in York, PA. He also worked on the Elk River Flood Control Dam at Sutton, WV. Pastor Cogar attended classes from West Virginia Wesleyan College’s extension program and was ordained as a Baptist Minister on May 29, 1960 by the Elk River Baptist Church, a member of the Elk River Baptist Association, at Frametown, WV. In 1960, he relocated to Mogadore, OH, where he was employed by Lawson Milk Co., of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, as a refrigeration equipment installer and service man. He was then employed by Mohawk Data Sciences, of Herkimer, NY, as a customer Engineer in their Parma, OH office. He was divorced from Emogene Cogar in 1965.
In 1968, Pastor Cogar moved to Mohawk, NY. On May 30, 1968, he married Agnes (Berry) Devine, in Schuyler. In November 1968, he started a Bible Study in the Herkimer Baptist Church and then in the Mohawk United Methodist Church and later at the home of Mrs. Alberta Reardon, which continued for many years and touched many lives for Christ. In 1970, several Christian men, with Pastor Cogar, formed the Mohawk Valley Evangelistic Association to evangelize the Mohawk Valley area. He also presented the Gospel on a local radio station. In 1970, he and his family moved to Bush Road in Schuyler, NY. He was employed by Cogar Corporation, as Manager of Facilities, until February 1972, when he was injured in an accident on the way to work. Upon his recovery in July 1972, he applied as a candidate to the Clinton and Cassville Baptist Churches. He served both churches, as Pastor, for two years and then the Cassville Community Church until February 1984. He attended several Pastoral Training Conferences at Liberty University at Lynchburg, VA. In 1983, Pastor Cogar founded Valley Baptist Church and Valley Bible Institute, in Schuyler, NY. He served there, as Pastor, until 1991. He served Dennison Corners Community Church, as Pastor, on two occasions and as pulpit supply and interim Pastor for other churches in the surrounding area. Pastor Cogar has served as counselor and friend to many valley residents over the years, also performing many weddings and funerals.
Surviving family members include his devoted wife of almost 50 years, Agnes; a grandson, Brit Aaron Devine, of Cicero, NY; several additional grandchildren and great-grandchildren; three daughters, Regina Leigh Cogar, Suzanne Marie Cogar and Ruth Ellen Stratton and her husband, Ottis, all of OH; three brothers, James Cogar and his wife, Meniko, of Schuyler, NY, Samuel Cogar, of Herkimer, NY and William Cogar, of WV; four sisters, Rebecca Whittington, of PA, Rosemary Coop, of FL, Clara Morris, of AL and Nellie Post, of Herkimer; several nieces, nephews, cousins; and many friends.
He was predeceased by his father and mother; his daughter, Marilyn Devine; his sisters, Joan Coffman and Naomi Garee; and brothers, George R. Cogar and Thomas R. Cogar.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 5, 2018, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home’s larger location at 4309 Acme Rd. (old Main St.), between Ilion and Frankfort.
Pastor Jack’s Funeral and Memorial Service will be held immediately following calling hours, at 5:30 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home. Spring interment will be in North Columbia Cemetery.
Anyone wishing to share a memory of Pastor Jack, or add to his online memorial, may go to www.applegateandday.com.
In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Crosspoint Church, 317 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro, NY 13492. Envelopes will also be available at the funeral home.
Pastor Jack had requested that one of his closest and longtime (40 years) friends, Don Applegate, arrange and supervise all his funeral and burial services.
