Frederick William Brooks Jr.

Frederick W. Brooks, Jr, 72, of Virginia Beach, Va. passed away April 3, 2015. He began life in Windsor, Connecticut growing up on Union St and spending time at the family’s summer cottage, the ‘Shack’, in Haddam Neck. As a teenager he worked at the Cozy Corner Restaurant, the Windsor Theater and as a volunteer fireman. In 1960, at the age of seventeen, he gave up his black leather jacket and slicked ducktail hair for the United States Marines. He spent 14 years in the USMC and 12 years in the CT Army National Guard. He retired as Sergeant First Class in 1986. He was a life member of Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 20 and the 2nd Marine Division Association.Fred met his sweetheart of fifty years on a small town park pond while ice skating. They married on September 19, 1964 at St Gabriel’s Church. He was owner-operator of his own trucking company for twenty years. He lived his life one day at a time. He enjoyed traveling and sampling food at every stop, reading military historical fiction, fishing in the Salmon River, the Gulf of Mexico or the Chesapeake Bay and lying on the beach. He is preceded in death by his parents Frederick Sr. and Adele G. Haraburda Brooks. He leaves his wife Betsey B. Brooks; son William G. Brooks, daughter and son-in-law Lorie and Jonathan Holter; son and daughter-in-law Jeffrey F. and Jennifer R. Brooks; grandchildren – Joshua, Samantha, Haley Brooks; Daniel and Eleanor Holter; Gina and Zachary Brooks; sisters and brothers-in-law – Elizabeth and Robert Bowen; Beverly and Michael Pietraroia; and several nieces and nephews.The family would like to thank all those who prayed for, assisted in various ways and uplifted Fred and his family during his 3 year battle with pancreatic cancer. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Fred at Pancreatic Cancer Action Network pancan.org for further research and to create hope.Visitation will be April 7, 2015, 7-9 PM at Altmeyer Funeral Home, Southside Chapel 5792 Greenwich Rd. Virginia Beach, Va 23462.