William Paul Brooks

William Paul Brooks (Bill), 92, beloved husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, Gpa and Geeps was the first child of Glenn and Edna (Donaldson) Brooks. He was born on April 25, 1929 and went peacefully home to his Savior Jesus on Thursday night, June 17, 2021.

He is survived by his daughters, Nancy Myers, and Diane Cloud (Doug), all of Albuquerque; grandchildren Brianna Melanson (Jeff) of Portland, OR and Taylor Myers of Brooklyn, NY, Carly Floyd (Luke), Melanie Mudge (Josh) all of Albuquerque, and Mandy Underwood (Josh) of Silverthorne, CO; great grandchildren Judah, Hazel and Josie Floyd. He is also survived by his brother Jim Brooks (Lois Ann) of Enid, OK, sister-in-law Ruth Jones of Yukon, OK and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded by his wife of 61 years, LaVerne (Janzen) Brooks in 2017, his first grandchild Christopher Cloud in 1984 and great grandchild Zander Floyd in 2018.

He received his primary education at Pioneer School in Waukomis, Oklahoma, and Longfellow Junior High in Enid, then graduated from Enid High School in 1947.  His mother reported that school never challenged him and many times she found him at the pool hall during the day.  He went to Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL in 1950. When it didn’t work out with the girl he followed, he purchased his own “Grapette” truck and began delivering soda around Enid, OK.

He then served in the United States Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi as a Radar Instructor and Systems Mechanic from 1951-1954, receiving an honorable discharge.

Bill finally applied his brilliant mind to his studies at the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a BS in Engineering Physics (with Distinction) in 1957.  He was also a member of the Sigma Tau Engineering Fraternity.  He received a Masters Degree in Physics from the University of New Mexico in 1962.

He met LaVerne in Enid, Oklahoma through his mother, who was her Sunday School teacher, and she hand picked him out for her son!  It was a match made in heaven and they were married in 1955. They moved to New Mexico in 1957, where he began his 30-year career at Sandia National Laboratories as a physicist, photographing explosions, projectiles, and rocket sleds, among other things, at 2400 frames per second. They planned to be there 2 years and move back, but Albuquerque became their home for the rest of their lives, more than 6 decades.

Bill and LaVerne were longtime members of Hoffmantown Baptist Church beginning in 1957 serving alongside pastors Keating, Balthrop, Bryant and Boshoff.  He was Chairman of the Deacons in the 1980’s and a Revelation Choir sponsor along with LaVerne from 1976-1980, chaperoning choir tours to Seattle, Durango, San Antonio and San Diego.  As a choir favorite, he earned the nickname “Bubbly” and made an impact to this day on many lives.

He enjoyed golfing and especially 4-wheeling in southern Colorado.  Bill and LaVerne loved attending ball games, tennis matches, recitals, school events and birthday parties for each grandchild.  They also enjoyed visiting with friends and family all over the country while RV-ing, through all states except Hawaii including Alaska twice and most of the Canadian provinces.  They traveled from 1984-2015, when LaVerne was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer.

Bill spent his last three years at Elmcroft Senior Living making many friends and becoming a beloved resident with staff and caregivers.  He enjoyed each person who crossed his path and learned their stories, sharing smiles and laughs, always saying ‘I’m good!’ when asked how he was.  He forgot names (calling them all ‘Slick’) but never forgot the person. His sweet spirit and cheerful disposition were with him until the end.

May we never forget his example of connecting with people individually, being funny and cheerful, accepting difficult circumstances in life with a positive attitude, always forgiving and living out his strong faith every day.

A celebration of his life will be held at Hoffmantown Church on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 1 pm.  Memorial contributions may be made to Eagle's Wings, The Navigators (Rob Mahon) or Samaritan's Purse.