Sylvia Hennigar

Sylvia Helen Hennigar, age 87, of Lakehills, TX, peacefully went to be with the Lord November 16, 2021 while with family at home. She was born in London, England, July 1934. Sylvia was 5 years old when she was separated from her family by Operation Pied Piper where nearly 2 million children were evacuated from London in order to spare them from Nazi bombing. She eventually returned to her family who were then living in Rickmansworth, England where she lived until she met and married her first husband, Billy L. Russell (Deceased). She legally immigrated to the U.S. with her husband in 1955.

In 1971, Sylvia began a very successful 25-year career with Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), at Reese AFB Lubbock, TX and went on to manage stores at Shaw AFB, Ft. Ord, and Ft Benning where she retired in 1996.

Very shortly thereafter, she and her husband, Jim Hennigar moved to Lakehills in 1996 and quickly became very active as volunteers at the Lackland Thrift Store, driving and delivering Meals on Wheels in Bandera County, serving meals to the community at the Lakehills United Methodist Church’s Bread of Life ministry on Monday nights and also at their annual Fish Fry.  Sylvia and Jim also loved to sing in the choir at Lakehills United Methodist Church and most recently at Bandera United Methodist Church.

Sylvia will also be remembered for the wonderful cakes she would bake to donate to fund raisers and bring to every family gathering. Her artistic talents were many. She painted, worked with ceramics and China painting, and created many beautiful needlework pieces.

Sylvia was proceeded in death by her parents, Leonard and Emma Bull; sisters Flossie Martin, Marion (Binkie) Jordan; brothers George, Leonard, and Christopher Bull. She is survived by her loving husband, Major Harry James Hennigar Jr. (ret.); her son David Russell & wife Neita, daughters Linda Wilson & husband Chuck, Gail Baker and husband Randy, and Susan Bernstein and husband Billy, stepson Scott Hennigar and wife Sheila, stepdaughter Cynthia Pedersen, and sister, Carol Dowden and husband Michael, and niece Chris Norris.  She’s been blessed to have 13 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren and 1 step great grandchild.

Her internment service will occur Friday, December 10, 2021 at 11:15 AM at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209 – Shelter #2.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Animal Defense League, https://adltexas.org/donation/