Ralph Howard Crook, 73, of 22780 Route 6 and 19, Cambridge Springs, passed away peacefully at his home on October 2, 2014 following an extended illness.

Ralph was born in Pittsburgh on July 22, 1941, the son of Thomas William Crook and Dolores Miller Crook. He married Sandra L. Bell on February 13, 1970.

Ralph graduated from Cambridge Springs High School in 1959 and attended Alliance College in Cambridge Springs. Upon completion of an 8,000-hour apprenticeship with Talon in Meadville, he enjoyed a long and successful career in the local tool and die industry. In 1976 he established the Springs Tool Company, which he owned and operated until retiring in 2011.

Aside from his passion for Tool and Die, Ralph enjoyed riding motorcycles, ????hooting the breeze???? with friends at his shop, and spending time outdoors in his woods and his family camp along the Allegheny River near Tidioute.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Sandra, of Cambridge Springs; a son, Ronald Crook of Hermitage; five daughters, Nancy Crook Barr and her husband, Mike, of Hermitage; Deborah Crook Hamlin and her husband, Wells, of St. Charles, Illinois; Jenifer Crook Wagner and her husband, Shawn, of Gettysburg, Kasey Crook Smith and her husband, Eric, of Erie, and Elizabeth Crook Insalaco and her husband, Sam, of Buffalo; a brother, Lee Crook of Loris, South Carolina, and two sisters, Linda Miller and her husband, Wayne, and Karen Kwiatkowski, both of Cambridge Springs.

He is also survived by several adoring grandchildren to whom he was affectionately known as ????op Pops????: Nichole Falavolito; Jonathan, Alayna and Amanda Bartko; Trey, Quinton and Frankie Hamlin; Conor, Ethan and Brody Wagner; Kayla, Austin, Lauren, and Jacob Smith; and Zoey Insalaco; and one great granddaughter, Phebe Falavolito.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

On Saturday, October 4, visiting hours will be held from 7-9 pm at the Van Matre Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 5 at 2 pm at the First Church of God, Cambridge Springs.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to one of the following charities: Christmas for Kids, c/o John Anderson, 26405 Mt. Pleasant, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403 (an organization for which Ralph would deliver Christmas presents to local families in need); Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure,????1717 Rhode Island Avenue, NW????uite 700????ashington, DC 20036; or Hospice of Crawford County, Inc. 464 Pine Street, Meadville, PA 16335.