Robert E. “Bob” Brooks, age 80 years formerly of the Allouez Drive neighborhood of Niles, Mich. died at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday – Thanksgiving Day – Nov. 28, 2013 at West Woods of Niles. His death was unexpected, but of natural causes.

He was born on July 13, 1933 in Circleville, Ohio to Elzie R. and Fannie M. (Rowe) Brooks. He had challenges which the public schools of the era could not serve, so his mother and Mrs. Yates founded the Brooks-Yates School and Workshop in Circleville of which Bob was a student, and later an employee. The Brooks-Yates Center still serves Pickaway County, Ohio. Bob moved to Niles in 1988 to be near his sister, Ruth Horney.

In Ohio, Bob was a member of the Scioto Chapel United Methodist Church. In Niles, he was a member of the Luvability Ministries at First Church of Christ – Christian. He was also a member of the former Niles Association for Exceptional Citizens (NAFEC) and its bowling team. He enjoyed music on records and the radio, especially country, Bing Crosby and the Beach Boys. He also enjoyed walking, anything chocolate, and travelling throughout the United States with his mother. He will be best remembered for the outgoing manner in which he greeted everyone in his community at West Woods.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, and by his sister and her husband, Allen.

Surviving family includes his nieces, Carolyn (George, Jr.) Ernsperger of Niles and Beverly (Jim) Newburn of Hastings, Iowa; grand-nieces and nephews, Jacob Andrew Ernsperger, Ian Anthony Ernsperger, Cassandra McVay and Hannah McVay; and great-grand-niece Aaliyah May McVay and nephew Dallas James Maxwell.

The funeral service for Robert E. Brooks will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Linda VanDyke of Luvability Ministries officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Committal services will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 at the Graveside at the Muhlenberg-Darbyville Cemetery in Darbyville, Ohio with the Rev. Deborah A. Nance of Scioto Chapel United Methodist Church officiating. Contributions in memory of Bob may be made to the Scioto Chapel United Methodist Church, or to Luvability Ministries.

www.halbritterfunerals.com