Submitted by: Dan Rich

Gilbert Brooks

June 9, 1927 - Nov. 6, 1999

South Bend Tribune 11/10/1999

Gilbert Brooks, 72, of 1330 E. Howard Street, expired of natural causes on Saturday, Nov. 6, in his home. He was born on June 9, 1927, in South Bend, Ind., to the union of the late Alma Esters and Gilbert Brooks, Sr. Gilbert received all his formal education in the South Bend school system. He later joined the United States Air Force, serving during World War II, and for that service received an honorable discharge. He was a member of the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. He was a musician for many years in the South Bend area. For 57 years he worked in the downtown area in the shoe repair business, which is now Alex Shoe Hospital.

He was united in holy matrimony to Sadie Clemons of South Bend. Along with his loving wife, Sadie Clemons, he leaves to cherish his loving memory one son, Gilbert Lavone Brooks, Jr.; two stepsons, Duane Coley and Frederick Brooks, all of South Bend; three stepdaughters, Elizabeth Jennings and Sadie Clemons of South Bend, and Willa Bonita Bellenger of California; three sisters, Willa (Lacy) Hunt, Joanna (James) Wheeler and Esther Stuckey Wade, all of South Bend; two brothers, Murral (Roselyn) Brooks of Moreno Valley, Calif., and Robert (Sandra) Brooks of University Heights, Ohio; a special uncle, Jack Floyd Esters; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. today, Nov. 10, followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. at the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery, South Bend. The Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home is entrusted with services.