IN MEMORIAM: William E. Brooks Jr., 76;
Longtime Laurens Bus Driver, Custodian
LAURENS – William E. Brooks Jr., 76, who retired after 23 years of service to Laurens Central School as a custodian and bus driver, lost his courageous battle with cancer on Aug. 16, 2017.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, on Jan. 17, 1941, he moved to Upstate New York as a young man, marrying Harriet Bucca-Brooks of Reading, Pa., while living in Elmira. The couple had two children, Daniel Brooks and Antoinette Brooks-Shipe. Later in life, moving to the Laurens area, he met and married Barbara Sitts of Laurens and they had two children, James M. Brooks and William E Brooks 3rd, both of Laurens.
In more than two decades at Laurens Central, he will be remembered for the jingling keys everyone heard as he walked down the hallways. His children remember his willingness after working all day, hopping behind the wheel of a bus to drive sports team or the marching band. He particularly enjoyed his time with his grandkids and watching them play sports.
He will be greatly missed. He was predeceased by his father William E Brooks Sr. and his mother Dorothy Brown-Brooks both of Ohio, his sister Micky Coe of California and brother Ron Brooks of Ohio, as well as his ex-wife Harriet.
Survivors include children James Brooks and his wife Kelly Kopf- Brooks( Nick, Ashlie and James) of Laurens, William Brooks of Laurens (Ashlyn, Alyse, Harley, Hannah, Faith and Halona), Antoinette Brooks-Shipe (Rod) of Pennsylvania, Daniel Brooks (Josh, Jeremy) of Pennsylvania; ex-wife Barbara Sitts–Brooks-Delaney (Pat) of Oneonta; his sister Patricia Triofante and husband Carmen of Ohio; his brother Mike Brooks of Ohio, and his brother James Brooks and his wife Carol of Ohio, 12 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers please make all donations in his name to Catskill Area Hospice or HCR healthcare of Oneonta.
To send online condolences visit www.ottmanfuneralhome.com
Arrangements were entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley, NY .