Obituary of Cecil Brooks

Dr. Cecil Rucker Brooks, 83 of Huddleston, died Saturday, May 17, 2014. He was born on April 2, 1931 in Bedford County, a son of the late Dabney Clayton Brooks & Maybelle Wray Brookes. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Nelson, Marvin & Kerford Brooks. De Brookes was a veteran of the U. S. Army having served during the Korean War. He attended Virginia Tech for his Bachelor of Science & Major of Science degrees in Agronomy. He attended Texas A & M for his Doctor of Philosophy degree. Dr. Brooks was a member of the Phi Sigma Society at Virginia Tech, devoted to the promotion of research in the biological sciences. He was also a member of the society of the Sigma Xi, Texas A & M University chapter. Dr. Brooks worked on many different projects in many different places in the United States. He worked for Scott Seed Company, the Iroquois Institute, planting the original American Chestnut trees. He worked on the Alaskan Pipeline, counting the grass and the damage to the soil from the building of the pipeline. He was co-author of several published books on the Alaskan Pipeline now housed in the Library of Congress. Dr. Brooks last worked for Hurt & Proffit Engineering as an advisor on wetlands projects, as well as perking soil for subdivisions. He was a true outdoorsman; he loved working with soil and he loved nature, trees, planting flowers and growing his garden. He is survived by his loving & devoted wife, Blondine Debbie Brooks; a sister, Thelma Books Barger of Huddleston; a brother, William J. Brooks & wife, Linda of Arizona; a daughter, Tracey Byrd of Rocklin, CA; sons, Tyler Brooks of Lancaster, CA & Jason Brooks of Lexington, NE; two grandchildren; step-children, Gary Gerald & wife, Becky of North Carolina, Brent Gerald & wife, Mary of Virginia, Chiristie Palmer of Virginia; many nieces & nephews and step-grandchildren and a special step-granddaughter, Amy Logan. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Palestine Baptist Church Building Fund, 9244 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway, Huddleston, VA 24104. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 1 PM at Updike Funeral Chapel, Bedford with Dr. Kevin King officiating. Interment will follow in the Patmos United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday beginning at 11 AM and until the time of the service at Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.