Essex C. Brooks

Essex C. Brooks passed on December 6, 2002. He was born January 11, 1923 in Anthony, New Mexico. He was the elder son of E.B. Brooks and Edmonia Boyer Brooks. He grew up in and around Las Cruces, New Mexico and graduated from Lincoln High School in Las Cruces. In 1943, he entered active military service with the U.S. Army. He served with the 1314th Engineer Regiment in the U.S. and Europe during World War II. He was wounded and discharged in 1946. He married Lula Lois Runnels in 1947, They were married for 28 years and three sons were born to this union, Karl, Wayne and Brian. He loved airplanes. He got a pilot's license and worked as a commercial pilot in San Antonio. He worked at Kelly AFB for 39 years, retiring in 1986 as an Aircraft Maintenance Quality Inspector. After retirement, he remained extremely active with his church, traveling and spoiling his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Wayne Bernard Brooks in 1999. Survived by his sons, Brian E. Brooks, San Antonio, TX and Karl E. Brooks and his wife, Margaret, Texas City, TX; sister, Lareene Dixon and husband, Nathaniel, Stockton, CA; brothers, Alfonso Brooks and wife Shirley, Rio Linda, CA, James Cooper, Phoenix, AZ.