Sylvia D.A. Kirk Scrimgeour Cook

Sylvia is preceded in death by her father, John Connor Scrimgeour, mother Dorothy A. Kirk Puttock Scrimgeour and Brother Jim Scrimgeour.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Robert Earle (Bob) Cook, brother Peter Scrimgeour and wife Dorothy of Austin and their son Tracy, sons Roy Cook of San Antonio and fiancé Ruth Baker of Austin, Sam Cook and wife Cathy of Pflugerville, Steven Cook and wife Madilynne of Portland, Oregon, grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Travis, Rebecca, Kelly, Ethan, Audrey and Sarah.

Sylvia's father was a career British Army soldier, stationed in India so Sylvia and her two brothers were born in Kasauli India. The family enjoyed good living quarters. They had servants, horses to ride, and generally a good life.

When Japan came into the war, the British government was concerned that Japan might take China and then start westward across Asia. They ordered all non-military and military dependents from India back to England. At eight years old, Sylvia, her mother and brothers made the trek from Northwest India, south, the length of India to the sea coast. They traveled by train. There was a river to cross on the route, and it was swollen from heavy rain. The train had to stop and let all the passengers off. The train then proceeded very slowly across the bridge. The passengers had to cross the river on foot. Sylvia said that she got on the shoulders of an Indian man, and he crossed holding on to a rope strung across the river. When all passengers got across, they boarded the train again, and completed their journey to the coast.

Upon arriving at the coast, Sylvia and family boarded one of two ships, going back to England. One of the two ships, that left the port, was stopped by a German submarine in the Indian Ocean. The passengers and crew were told to disembark the ship and board the other ship by the commander of the German submarine. All were loaded on the other ship that Sylvia and family were on, making it quite crowded. The German commander was told that he had to sink it because it was supposedly loaded with ammunition and supplies, however, it was later known that the ship that Sylvia and family were on that was allowed to proceed was actually the ship that carried all the ammunition and supplies as well as all passengers. The ship then traveled the southern tip of Africa, because the Suez Canal was full of German submarines. Then the ship travelled north, off the West coast of Africa, to England. When Sylvia's family arrived in England, they travelled to London, and stayed with Sylvia's aunt Sylvia, until they found their own place.

Sylvia's family found their own place, however, it was closer to London center. During this time, Hitler's Germany was sending planes to London. Fighter planes strafed the streets in the daytime, and bombers bombed at night. The daytime strafing was timed by the Germans, to when the children went to school, so the children would stagger the times they went to school, to throw off the German planes. If Sylvia and her brothers got caught on the street, they would take shelter in the entry way of stores along the streets. Sylvia said one day, walking home from school, she saw a human leg floating down the Thames River. These are hardly the sights and experiences that are suitable for a young girl.

Whenever the air raid sirens sounded, they had to leave their home and go to the underground, what we call the subway, for shelter. Later they were given a portable shelter. It was a steel cover, large enough for the whole family to get into. It was installed in the basement of their home. Now, they didn't have to go to the underground, when sirens sounded. Finally, the city built permanent shelters. Sylvia's family was lucky enough to have a concrete bunker built right outside their place.

Sylvia's father came home on leave, because he was wounded. After one air raid, he told his family that they could not stay in London any longer. He found a place for them, in the country. It was a 12th century building, with a thatched roof. It had no electricity, or inside plumbing, not what the family was accustomed to in India. The one thing it did have was safety, there were no bombs. Sylvia and her brothers went to school, and life started to seem somewhat normal.

Sylvia's father finally came home, when the war was over, but it was not the joyous experience the Scrimgeour family anticipated. He was extremely upset and affected by all the terrible things he had experienced during the war. The day-to-day fighting up the entire length of Italy, was bad enough. Then, when he reached Germany, his unit was one of the first to liberate the concentration camps. What he saw there was indescribable. He had what we call today, post-traumatic stress disorder. He stayed in his room, out of touch, for a year.

Over the years, Sylvia's father recovered, and the family moved to several different villages and towns, and better homes, wherever Sylvia's father could find work. Sylvia finished school and worked at several different jobs. Her brothers were in the British Navy. The last town the family moved to was Bury St. Edmunds. This was a town in Suffolk County about twenty miles north east of London.

Sylvia met and married Bob Cook in Bury St. Edmunds, after dating for six months. She and Bob moved into an apartment close to the Shepherd's Grove America Air Force base, where Bob was stationed. When Bob's time was up in the Air Force, Bob was shipped back to the States. She and Bob stayed with Bob's mother, in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, but that did not work well. Sylvia was uncomfortable there.

Bob's brother Dick had enlisted at the same time as Bob but Dick decided to stay in the Air Force and make a career out of it. Dick came to New Jersey, for a Christmas visit, and asked Sylvia and Bob if they would like to come to San Antonio, where Dick was stationed. He offered for them to stay with him and his wife, until Bob could find work. They took him up on his offer and moved to San Antonio. That is how Sylvia got to Texas. Bob found work and they then moved into their own place. Once on their own, Sylvia put her many skills into play. She was an excellent cook and baker. Each of her sons got a choice of what birthday cake to have on their Birthday and the Holidays; with pumpkin pies and pecan pies. You can ask our sons about that! She was outstanding in sewing and knitting.

Their first son Roy, was born in San Antonio. Sylvia proved to be a most capable and loving mother. The company, Bob worked for, transferred him to Austin in 1963. Their sons, Sam and Steven, were born in Austin. Sylvia took all of this in stride, and raised their three sons to be the fine men they are today.

Sylvia loved her sons more than life itself and found great love and joy in being a grandmother to seven grandchildren.

Visitation is Wednesday 3/25/2015 from 6-8pm. Funeral Service is Thursday 3/26/2015 at 11am, both at Weed-Corley-Fish, North Lamar Location.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America at www.alzfdn.org.