Brooks, Harvey Allen
Harvey Allen Brooks, 78, of Dublin, died Sunday, March 26, 2006 at Pulaski Health and Rehab Center.
A cool, crisp fall day in the Virginia Highlands, the distinctive call of a wild tom turkey, rubs and scrapes left by a majestic whitetail buck, the sound of Booger and Rascal hot on a rabbit’s trail. These are some of the things that Harvey knew and loved. An avid outdoorsman and woodsman, he knew the name of every tree in the forest, even though he had never taken a botany class. He was a self-taught woodworker who would fabricate boards and build furniture from pieces most would consider scrap.
Harvey was born in Helen, W.Va. on January 10, 1928 to the late Drewery and Ida Brooks. His childhood and early adolescent years were spent in Smyth County, Virginia, where he grew up in the Appalachian culture, learning to survive off the land and appreciate the wonders of the forest.
He served in the U.S. Army, completing a tour in Alaska, before being honorably discharged at the end of World War II. After laboring more than 38 years at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, he elected early retirement in 1989. He spent his retirement years doing the things he loved until a lifetime of diabetes finally took his sight and impeded his mobility.
He is survived by wife, Sylvia; children, Krista Horton of Conway, S.C., Lisa Allen and husband, J. D. of Mt. Airy, S.C., Melanie Snow and husband, Carl of Dublin, Gene Brooks and wife, Punia of Christiansburg; grandchildren, Natasha, Kristie, Timothy, Brooke, Brandy and husband Andrew, Kelly and husband Dave, and Tristin; and many special great-grandchildren. Also surviving are sisters and brothers, Josephine Surber of Princeton, W.Va., Violet Daly and husband, Ikey of Tazewell, Wilbur Brooks of Chilhowie, D.C. Brooks and wife, Mary of North Augusta, S.C., James Brooks and wife, Brenda of Marion; and many special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by eldest brother Edgar of Chattanooga, Tenn., who is survived by wife, Shirley.
Harvey was a devoted Christian who enjoyed attending church services and viewing Biblical television. He will be greatly missed by all, but we know that he is at peace with God, free from earthly pain and affliction. Special thanks to the staff at Wheatland Hills, Radford and most recently Pulaski Health and Rehab Center for their loving care and attention.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11 a.m. in the Church of God of Prophecy, Radford, with Pastor Tom Warren and Pastor Michael Collins officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Memory Gardens, Dublin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association Memorials, Box 2680, North Canton, Ohio 44720 or the Virginia Hunters for the Hungry.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, Blacksburg.