Dec. 7, 1926 — June 8, 2015

Captain Karl F. Cook, USN (Ret), 88, of Scottsville, died Monday, June 8, 2015 at his residence.

He was born on December 7, 1926 in Niles, Michigan, a son of the late Sheridan and Margaret (Schmidt) Cook.

He was a graduate of Niles High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1943 and retired in February 1979. He was married to his wife of 59 years, the former Mary Rita Grundy of South Bend, Indiana who preceded him in death in July of 2008.

Karl attended Western Michigan University and Iowa State University in the V-12A program prior to his appointment to the US Naval Academy from the 4th Congressional District of Michigan and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1949. He earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1950. Karl’s Naval career spanned 36 years. His tours included aviation duty on both the East and West coasts, surface ship, Iceland, Sicily, Japan, Vietnam, and three tours at the Pentagon.

He and Rita raised nine children, moving 18 times from Maine to Hawaii. After retirement from the Navy, Karl was a Project Manager at Computer Sciences Corporation before retiring to his Christmas Tree Plantation in Buckingham County, VA in 1991. Karl was a member of the Knights of Columbus, US Naval Institute, Navy League, Military Officer Association of North America, and the Operations Research Society of America.

Survivors include seven sons, Patrick, Timothy, Kevin, and Dennis, all of Richmond, Virginia, Terence of Mesa, Arizona, Michael of Buckingham County, Virginia, and Edward of New Baltimore, Virginia; two daughters, Kathleen Zurfluh Scott of Goodyear, Arizona and retired Senior Chief Petty Officer Maureen Cook Hanna, USN; five sisters; and 22 grandchildren.

Rita and Karl will be inurned in the US Naval Academy Columbarium at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bread of Life, c/o St. George Catholic Church, PO Box 9, Scottsville, VA 24590 would be appreciated.

Thacker Brothers Scottsville Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Family and friends may share memories and photos at www.thackerbrothers.com.