John (Jack) C. Brooks

John (Jack) Caperton Brooks, age 87, of Houston and Galveston, died March 14, 2012. He was born in Houston on September 9, 1924. He graduated from Reagan High School and attended the University of Texas. At the age of 16, Jack left school to join the US Air Corps to fight in WWII. In 1945, on the last mission of the 8th Air Force—the ill-fated bombing of the Skoda Works in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia—his plane was shot down and he was forced to parachute into Germany from the disabled airplane. This qualified him to become a card carrying member of the "Caterpillar Club." His entire career was spent with the Travelers Insurance Company where he was assigned to 13 different cities. He loved his many friends and entertaining. An inveterate traveler—going around the world for 35 years with the same friend—he visited over 120 countries. A gifted raconteur, Jack had an endless supply of intriguing, amusing tales to tell.

It is impossible to list all his friends because as soon as you met him, you wanted to know him better.He was confident enough to do the New York Times crossword puzzle in ink. A lifelong yellow dog Democrat, he was always a defender of the underdog. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the doctors and nurses at UTMB in Galveston who did everything possible to save him. Jack is survived by his second cousins, Randy, Brooks, and Judy. Survivors also include members of what he fondly called his second family: Charlie Bresenhan of Houston and Galveston, Maurice and Karey Bresenhan of Houston and La Grange, Nancy and Carlos Puentes of Austin, Brandy and Brad Craig of Houston, Hollis O’Bryant of Warda; Julie Catherine Puentes and Dana Schrab of Austin; and his beloved dog Murphy. Visitation will be Monday, March 19 from 5 to 7 pm at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd. Graveside services will be at 10 am on Tuesday, March 20 in Forest Park Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale.