Obituary for Frances Ellen Brooks August 23,1925 – September 24,1018 Frances E. Brooks entered into rest on September 24th, 2018. She is preceded in death by her Mother, Ollie D. Brooks, Father, Edward E. Brooks, and Brother -Edward “Raymond” Brooks, Brother Phillip Blackburn Brooks As a child, Frances grew up on a small little farm surrounded by orange groves on West Muscott, in San Bernardino, CA. In September of 2002, Frances participated in an oral interview conducted by Professor Dr. Joyce Hanson, from the Department of History at Cal State San Bernardino.
Some of the topics included: Frances talked about WWII and the prisoners located on same land Cal State now sits on and how the Arrowhead Springs Hotel was a Hospital. She talked of smudging the orange groves during the extreme cold winter nights and how she was in charge of watching the thermometer in order to start the call out for smudging the groves. (Please note: This interview is extremely interesting read and can be found, in whole, on line at the San Bernardino Public Library, Oral History Project, Frances Brooks) Frances graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1943.
After graduation, she attended Valley College for two years and worked nights at the San Bernardino Court House in the Tax Department checking legal descriptions. In 1948 she went on to attend UC Santa Barbara College working towards her degree in teaching. Interim, Frances was given an emergency credential, where she returned home and began teaching at Etiwanda Grade School, Frances taught the 2nd and third grade for 1.
5 years and then returned to college to complete her degree. She spent her most of her adult working life as a Teacher and Vice Principal at Boyd Elementary School in the Rialto School District for 25 plus years prior to her retirement. The 4th grade was Frances favorite grade because they studied California history, which she loved.
Over the years some of her students periodically stayed in touch with her. Frances loved to travel, play cards, golf and was a member of the San Bernardino golf club. She was also member of the Senior Center in Rialto where she loved playing Bingo and her favorite baseball team was the Angels.
Frances participated or volunteered in many Organizations over the years: She was very dedicated to her membership with the Native Daughters of the Golden West, and she recently received her fifty-year pin. She was involved with the Parks and Recreations for the City of Rialto, she volunteered for the Rialto Child Assistance with her last position being Treasurer. Additionally, Frances belonged to the Women’s Club of Rialto, the Historical Society and the City Council of Rialto named a conference center in her honor.
She also supported the Rialto Police Department Frances was a member of the Sunrise Church in Rialto. Frances is survived by her Nephew, Raymond Brooks & wife, Great Niece, Julie, her second cousin, Patricia Sowers, her close Friend, Sandy Glenn and Frances’s beloved dog, Dorie. A special thank you goes to Sandy Glenn for her caring & loving support of Frances over the years.
Graveside services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 4, 2018 at Montecito Memorial Park, Colton, CA. Funeral services entrusted to Bobbitt Memorial Chapel, San Bernardino, CA. On line condolences may be left at bobbittchapel.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Frances Ellen Brooks please visit our Sympathy Store.
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