Edith Redfield and her twin sister Esther Redfield were born the daughters of William Nye and Edith Sanderson Redfield on September 2, 1893, in Seattle, Washington.

On January 11, 1922, Edith Redfield and Albert Harold Rooks, U.S. Navy, were united in marriage at Trinity Parish Church, Seattle, Washington, with Record William H. Bliss officiating. Witnesses were Fitzhugh Green and Elma Chapin Collins. The King County, Washington, Certificate number is 77671.

Edith and Albert Rooks had two sons: Harold Redfield Rooks born in 1922 and Albert Harold Rooks Jr., born in 1929.

The Seattle Times (Seattle, Washington) 27 August 1970, Thursday, pate 58

Memorial Rites Scheduled for Edith Rooks, War Widow

Memorial services for Mrs. Edith R. Rooks, 76, widow of a World War II hero, will be at 4 p.m. tomorrow in Epiphany Church. There was cremation.

Mrs. Rooks died Tuesday in an Issaquah convalescent center after a long illness. The Rooks home for many years was 705 McGilvra Blvd.

Her husband, Captain Albert H. Rooks, was in command of the heavy cruiser USS Houston on February 28, 1942, when the ship was sunk in the Battle of the Java Sea.

He was listed as missing in action for more than a year. His family was cheered during that time by news that some of the crew members were prisoners of the Japanese in Batavia, Java. Captain Rooks was officially declared dead more than a year later.

While listed as missing, Captain Rooks was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands also bestowed a posthumous award on Captain Rooks for valor in the Battle of the Java Sea and defense of the Netherlands East Indies. In 1965, Captain Rooks' hometown of Walla Walla dedicated a park in his name.

In 1944, the destroyer USS Rooks, was built at Todd Pacific Shipyards. It was the second Navy vessel christened by Mrs. Rooks. She also sponsored the USS Breton, an escort aircraft carrier built at Todd.

Mrs. Rooks, a native Seattleite, was the daughter of William Nye and Edith Sanderson Redfield. A twin sister, Mrs. Esther R. Ottosen, died three years ago.

Survivors include two sons: Harold R. and Albert H. Rooks, both of Seattle.

Remembrances may be made to the Children's Orthopedic Hospital.

Note: Edith's twin sister, Esther Redfield and Peter Ottosen, were married on August 26, 1914, at Trinity Parish Church, Seattle, Washington, with Rector Herbert H. Gowen officiating. Peter Ottosen was from Iowa and was a career Army officer. They had two daughters, Edith R. Ottosen and Merry Ann Ottosen. Esther Ottosen died on May 11, 1967; and Colonel Peter Ottosen died on March 31, 1958.