Robert L. Cook Jr.

Bob Cook went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 17, 2026, at the age of 97. He was born in Poteet, Texas to Robert L. and Sula May Cook. The family lived in Poteet and Jourdanton but then moved to San Antonio shortly before Bob entered high school at Jefferson High School, where he was a Yell Leader.

Bob started college at the University of Texas, where he pledged Sigma Chi. His college days were interrupted, however, by the Korean War. Bob enlisted in the Air Force, where he was responsible for maintaining flight simulators. One evening, while assigned to Scott Air Force Base (located near East St. Louis, IL) he made a last-minute decision to stop at a USO in St. Louis, MO, where he met his future bride and love of his life, Charlotte Fassen.

Charlotte (Charley) and Bob married in St. Louis on July 10, 1954, after which they moved to Austin, TX so Bob could finish his degree at the University of Texas. He completed his BBA in 1955, after which he landed a job at National Bank of Commerce in San Antonio. Bob continued his education by becoming a member of and attending courses offered by Robert Morris Associates and American Institute of Banking. He also graduated from the prestigious Commercial Banking program at Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University of New Jersey in 1965.

He rose through the ranks at NBC, eventually becoming Executive Vice President and Regional Manager, Domestic Private Banking at NBC’s successor, Bank of America. He also served on several bank boards during his career, including First State Bank of Poteet, NBC Bank – Harlandale, NBC Bank – Ingram Park, NBC Bank – Uvalde, and IBC Bank – San Antonio, from which he retired in December 2024. Altogether, Bob had a 69-year career in banking, for which he was recognized at the Texas Bankers Association Annual Convention in 2025.

Bob was heavily involved in the San Antonio community and served on many civic and charitable boards as a board member and officer, including Texas Title Insurance Guaranty Association, Kiwanis Club of San Antonio, Traveler’s Aid Society, United Way of San Antonio, Alamo Heights School Foundation, Morningside Ministries, San Antonio Area Council of Girl Scouts, South Texas Regional Blood Bank and the San Antonio Charity Horse Show. He was also a member of the Masons and Alzafar Shrine. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees and was a deacon at Alamo Heights Christian Church. He won numerous awards from the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce for recruiting Chamber members and that organization eventually made him a Life Member. Following many years of service, Bob was also made a Lifetime Director Emeritus of the San Antonio Livestock Exposition.

Despite Bob’s and Charley’s many activities and accomplishments, Bob and Charley considered their children, Susan, Robin, Mindy, and Scott to be their most important achievement. All four graduated from Alamo Heights schools and Texas Christian University.

Bob was preceded in death by his sister, Lucille Cook Smith and her husband, Ralph O. Smith. His wife, Charley, passed away 10 days after he did.

Both are survived by their four children, Susan Cook and husband Bill Holt (Fort Worth), Robin Cook Hamilton and husband Terry Hamilton (Southlake), Mindy Cook Connally and husband Fritz Connally (Arlington, TX), and Scott Cook and wife Kelli (Fort Worth); as well as grandchildren Mary Byrne Connally McLain (John), Robbie Fassen Cook (Lauren), Maggie Connally Kash (John), Katie Hamilton Arnett (Zack), Riley Cook Claxton (Colten), Emily Hamilton Cato (Neil), and Remington Cook Donoghue (John), plus 9 great-grandchildren and 2 more on the way.

Services for both Bob and Charley will be Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 1:30 pm at Porter Loring Chapel, 1101 McCullough Ave. in San Antonio.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Charley and/or Bob be made to Alamo Heights Christian Church, The McNay Art Museum, or the USO.

Mrs. Cook's obituary can be found here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-antonio-tx/charlotte-cook-12806592