Cyril Soukup

Cyril J. Cy Soukup, 97, passed away at a local hospital on June 18, 2013. He was born to Joseph and Albina Pecinovsky Soukup, June 28, 1915, on a Farm near Ridgeway, IA.

After a country school education and only two years of high school because of high tuition, he was engaged in farming. Cy worked as a farm hand for 12 to 14 hours a day for only a dollar a day. He volunteered and was sworn in to the United States Army on February 12, 1942 at Fort Des Moines, IA. He served his basic training and cook and baker school at Fort Sill, OK. After an injury on the obstacle course, Cy was assigned to the Field Artillery of the second division at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. After a hearing disability he was reassigned to the signal corps for the eighth service command, at Fort Sam Houston. Upon completion of a medical exam in July 1944, Cy was sent to the Amphibious Engineers at Camp Claiborne, LA, and then sent to the Amphibious Engineers at Fort Barrances, FL, for training on a floating power plant.

In December of 1944 Cy arrived in Antwerp, Belgium and from there he went on to serve with the Sea Power, 17th engineering floating power plant, during the Battle of the Bulge. There were many close calls and near misses on the Sea Power by the German bombing runs, with Nazi buzz bombs and rocket bombs. After the war was over he arrived back in New York City on January 26, 1946, and was discharged on January 30th at Camp Grant, IL with the rank of Technician 5th grade. After spending a year working as a bartender for his father, he moved to San Antonio, TX, where he shagged golf balls on a driving range, worked in a bakery, had a bakery route, an ice cream route, and in the Service Department of Joskes of Texas. From there, Cy went into construction.

December 31, 1947 he married Lena Wolkerson Ford. Together they built and sold a house in Balcones Heights, TX and in 1952 they moved to California where Cy spent 35 years in the construction industry. He had a B1 California building contractors license, and did soundproofing in TV stations, radio stations, schools and hospitals. He also did computer installations at Kawrence Radiation Laboratory, rapid transit stations and jet engine testing stations at Alameda Naval Air Station in Alameda, CA. Cy had many other professions as well, including being a lieutenant in charge of the Moss Landing Division, of the Sequoia power Squadron of the United States Power Squadron he also taught boating safety in the Adult Education Department of Cabrillo State College in Santa Cruz, CA. He was also the Skipper of Sea Scout ship 17 at San Mateo, CA. In 1978 Cy and Lena built a house in the high desert, at 3200 ft. elevation at Joshua Tree, CA. In 1986 they moved to Ingram, TX where they built a house. Cy and Lena built 3 houses and bought 3 others in their life time.

Cyril is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Vivian, and his beloved wife of 54 years, Lena.

Cyril is survived by his step son, Forest Ford and family sister, Evelyn Bearman nephew, David Bearman and wife Joyce and numerous great and greatgreat nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Elaine Spence and family, and Carol Hardy and family.

Funeral Services will be held in the Main Chapel of Kerrville Funeral Home on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 11 AM with the Rev. Sam Ligon officiating. Interment will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 1:30 PM.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kerrville Funeral Home. 830 8955111

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