Obituary for Charles (Charlie) M. Brooks, Jr. Charles (Charlie) M. Brooks, Jr., 84, of Lebanon, died April 10, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of the late Jean (Karinch) Brooks. Born March 28, 1934 in Lebanon, he was the eldest son of the late Charles M. Brooks and Lillian Hottenstein Brooks, and a lifelong resident of Lebanon.
He graduated from Lebanon High School, Class of 1952, obtained an Industrial Engineering degree from Penn State in 1956, and a law degree from Dickinson School of Law in 1959. He was admitted to the Bar in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 1959. Following his schooling, he served with Battery D, 213th Artillery, PA Army National Guard with eight years of reserve duty.
Charlie was employed as an Industrial Engineer with the Lebanon Steel Foundry for several years after active military duty. Following his employment at the Steel Foundry, he became self-employed as an insurance and real estate agent, obtaining Brokers licenses for both in 1965. In 1969, he became associated with Eugene Hoaster Company, Inc., a well-known Lebanon insurance agency, where he became president and owner until his retirement in 1996.
During his association with the Hoaster Agency, he was elected to the Board of the Washington Mutual Insurance Co. of Lebanon, where he later became Secretary and CEO, a position which he held until the merger of the company in 1994. In connection with his Washington Mutual duties, he also served in various capacities including head of underwriting and Chairman of Eastern Mutual Group, an association of eight mutual insurance companies. In 1967, he became a member and later Secretary of the Board of Managers of the Mt.
Lebanon Cemetery Association, a position he held until 2017. In 1969, he was court appointed to the Lebanon County Board of Viewers, a board constituted to hear land condemnation cases, where he held re-appointments until 2017. From 1976 until 2016, he served as Secretary of the North Cornwall Township Authority throughout the period when the sewer system was first installed in the Township.
Following retirement in 1996, he developed and managed Outer Space Storage Park, a Lebanon mini-storage facility, an occupation which he enjoyed until his passing. During this period of time, he served as a North Cornwall Township Supervisor for eight years, five of them as Chairman. His lifetime memberships included Salem Lutheran Church, Cleona Fire Company, Penn State Alumni Association and Triangle National Fraternity.
Boards and organizations in which he was associated include Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, American Cancer Society, Catholic Social Services, Center of Lebanon Association, Lebanon County Association of Realtors and various state and national insurance associations. He was a board member of PRL, Inc. and former board member and president of the Lebanon Country Club. Surviving are his children James M. Brooks of Lebanon, PA, Laura Brooks Gleason, wife of Charles R. Gleason III of Elkton, MD, and Michael C. Brooks, husband of Amy Kreiser Brooks of Cornwall, PA, six grandchildren, and siblings Carol Brooks Farley, wife of Andrew Farley of Fallsington, PA, John W. (Bill) Brooks, husband of Susan Brooks of Allentown, PA and George H. Brooks, husband of Linda Brooks of Raleigh, NC.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 11AM at Salem Lutheran Church, 119 N. 8th Street, Lebanon, PA 17046. Inurnment is private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 610 Community Way, Lancaster, PA 17603 or your favorite charity.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Charles (Charlie) M. Brooks, Jr. please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Memorial 2018 JUN 9. 11:00 AM Salem Lutheran Church 119 N.8th Street Lebanon, PA, US, 17042 Order Flowers for the Memorial Service Guaranteed delivery before Charles (Charlie)’s Memorial Service begins.
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