Richard (Rick) Allen Kooken, 69, of East View, Clarksburg, passed away on Thursday, October 22, 2026, in Ruby Memorial Hospital with Darlena by his side. He was born in Clarksburg on November 9, 1956, the youngest son of the late Robbie Annabelle Murphy Kooken and Frank Howard Kooken.
He had a love of cars which started at a young age, and he bought his first car at the age of 15. He owned a multitude of cars – went through the fast cars of the 60’s and 70’s and then started slowing down to the cars of the teens through his 50’s. He owned his first garage when he was a teen with his brother Alfred. He was always turning wrenches and worked on his own cars and the cars of his friends out in his own garage all his life.
Rick was an avid hunter, and loved to deer hunt and hunted with bow, muzzleloaders and rifles. He hunted all kinds of game, and he taught Darlene how to properly cook the meat for the very best taste. In later years,
Rick started mushroom hunting. He would bring his finds home and he and his close friend Sandra Laurie would clean and cook them, and then can or freeze them for later use.
Rick was always helping others, which was one of his very best qualities. However he could help, that is what he did – from going out in the middle of the night to unthaw water pipes or to get someone’s heat back on, to going out of state with a friend to bring home a car.
Rick started working for Browns Lumber, and worked as a mechanic on a strip mine for several years. He then worked at Sun Hydraulics and then Mountaineer Hydraulics in Shinnston for a number of years. When he left there, he got his GED and started at UCAR, now Amstead, in Anmoore, from 1996 until he retired in 2022.
He leaves behind his loving companion and fiancée of 45 years, Darlena D. Doak.
Also surviving are his sister Judy Marsh and brother-in-law Foster of Glenville; a brother Alfred and companion Carol of East View; a brother-in-law Steve Jeffries of the Buckhannon area; nephew Maynard Marsh and his wife Kimberly of Burnsville; and a niece Suzette Marsh and companion Brian of Glenville. A brother-in-law Jim Doak and his wife of Mount Clare; sister-in-law Denise Tichnell of Parkersburg; and several other nieces and nephews complete his family.
Rick never met a stranger and he has so very many friends that are too numerous to count. He was so very blessed and will be missed deeply.
Friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, on Monday from 2 – 8 p.m., where services will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Rick Owens presiding. Interment will follow in Bridgeport Cemetery.
Burnside Funeral Home, Bridgeport