Norwyn Brooks age 95, died Jan. 29, 2008 at Lampasas Nursing & Rehab. Visitation will be Feb. 2 at 10:00 a.m. with the service following at 11:00 in Sneed Funeral Chapel with Minsters Elvis Fisher & Reid Schaub officiating. Burial will be at Rock Church Cemetery in Rumley.
Norwyn was born Dec. 2, 1912 in Wheeler County Texas, the son of Jim and Edith Brooks. He was a fourth generation Texan as his greatgrandfather moved to Texas from Georgia in about 1850. The family moved a number of times living in west Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Norwyn had fond memories of living near Mena, Arkansas.
The origin of his name is somewhat sketchy. His mother said she saw it in a book somewhere. According to some sources it means "Friend of the North".
The family moved back to Texas when Norwyn was still a boy. They traveled by train to Lampasas when they were met by his grandfather, Josephus Cornelius Brooks. They lived on a farm near the site of the old Rock Church School where his father had attended school. They called the place where they lived the "Poor Farm" for obvious reasons. He attended Clayrock School. Two older schools, Clayton and Rock Church joined to make up the new Clayrock School. He and his older brother James rode to school together on a mule. They had to cross the Lampasas River and ride down a country lane between cotton and corn fields to get to school. One day the mule was startled by a rattlesnake and threw the boys off. Although James sustained a broken arm, they had to continue the rough ride home on the mule.
Norwyn married his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Meredith, Dec. 24, 1935. She lived a few miles down the Lampasas River near Brooks' Crossing. Norwyn and Rachel made their home on the Lampasas River in Rumley. Norwyn started his life, as did most young farm boys of his generation, by plowing with mules, milking cows, picking cotton, butchering hogs, raising chickens, and gardening. There was no electricity in the house, only a battery powered radio, which got a new battery once a year. This was near the time of the great depression and times were really hard. Norwyn worked for as little as seventy five cents a day. In spite of these conditions, the family was very happy. The couple had four children, Cecil, Jeanie, Shirley and Joyce.
Norwyn was drafted and finished his basic training just in time to land on Omaha Beach. He recounted later that the landing was the hardest and longest day of his life. He fought through the Hedge Rows of Belgium, marched through the Arch of Triumph in Paris and ended up guarding King Ludwig's Castles in Bavaria. Norwyn said that they were usually lost and would listen to see if the group they were about to join was speaking English or German. He didn't like General Patton too much, as it was his group's job to "mop up" after the General had passed through the German towns. Many times the Germans would hold their fire until Patton had passed through the town, then the Germans would open fire when the infantry arrived. Norwyn truly was one of the "Greatest Generation".
After his arrival home, he became a carpenter and a home builder, and moved to Lampasas. He was a long time elder in the Church of Christ. He, along with others, built the church in which he served. If he had not suffered a stroke he might have lived to be a hundred, but he is better off now, in Heaven where he can live on forever. His life was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was truly a gentleman, always putting others' needs before his own.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James, and sisters Ava Irvine and Laverne Dennis. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, son Cecil Brooks and wife Evonne of Johnson City, daughters Jeanie Fullingim of Kyle, Joyce Halden and husband Danny of Round Rock, and Shirley Wilborn and husband Paul of Lampasas. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and eight great-greatgrandchildren.
Lampasas Dispatch Record; Lampasas, Texas. February 1, 2008.
Norwyn was born Dec. 2, 1912 in Wheeler County Texas, the son of Jim and Edith Brooks. He was a fourth generation Texan as his greatgrandfather moved to Texas from Georgia in about 1850. The family moved a number of times living in west Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Norwyn had fond memories of living near Mena, Arkansas.
The origin of his name is somewhat sketchy. His mother said she saw it in a book somewhere. According to some sources it means "Friend of the North".
The family moved back to Texas when Norwyn was still a boy. They traveled by train to Lampasas when they were met by his grandfather, Josephus Cornelius Brooks. They lived on a farm near the site of the old Rock Church School where his father had attended school. They called the place where they lived the "Poor Farm" for obvious reasons. He attended Clayrock School. Two older schools, Clayton and Rock Church joined to make up the new Clayrock School. He and his older brother James rode to school together on a mule. They had to cross the Lampasas River and ride down a country lane between cotton and corn fields to get to school. One day the mule was startled by a rattlesnake and threw the boys off. Although James sustained a broken arm, they had to continue the rough ride home on the mule.
Norwyn married his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Meredith, Dec. 24, 1935. She lived a few miles down the Lampasas River near Brooks' Crossing. Norwyn and Rachel made their home on the Lampasas River in Rumley. Norwyn started his life, as did most young farm boys of his generation, by plowing with mules, milking cows, picking cotton, butchering hogs, raising chickens, and gardening. There was no electricity in the house, only a battery powered radio, which got a new battery once a year. This was near the time of the great depression and times were really hard. Norwyn worked for as little as seventy five cents a day. In spite of these conditions, the family was very happy. The couple had four children, Cecil, Jeanie, Shirley and Joyce.
Norwyn was drafted and finished his basic training just in time to land on Omaha Beach. He recounted later that the landing was the hardest and longest day of his life. He fought through the Hedge Rows of Belgium, marched through the Arch of Triumph in Paris and ended up guarding King Ludwig's Castles in Bavaria. Norwyn said that they were usually lost and would listen to see if the group they were about to join was speaking English or German. He didn't like General Patton too much, as it was his group's job to "mop up" after the General had passed through the German towns. Many times the Germans would hold their fire until Patton had passed through the town, then the Germans would open fire when the infantry arrived. Norwyn truly was one of the "Greatest Generation".
After his arrival home, he became a carpenter and a home builder, and moved to Lampasas. He was a long time elder in the Church of Christ. He, along with others, built the church in which he served. If he had not suffered a stroke he might have lived to be a hundred, but he is better off now, in Heaven where he can live on forever. His life was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was truly a gentleman, always putting others' needs before his own.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James, and sisters Ava Irvine and Laverne Dennis. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, son Cecil Brooks and wife Evonne of Johnson City, daughters Jeanie Fullingim of Kyle, Joyce Halden and husband Danny of Round Rock, and Shirley Wilborn and husband Paul of Lampasas. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and eight great-greatgrandchildren.
Lampasas Dispatch Record; Lampasas, Texas. February 1, 2008.
Norwyn Brooks age 95, died Jan. 29, 2008 at Lampasas Nursing & Rehab. Visitation will be Feb. 2 at 10:00 a.m. with the service following at 11:00 in Sneed Funeral Chapel with Minsters Elvis Fisher & Reid Schaub officiating. Burial will be at Rock Church Cemetery in Rumley.
Norwyn was born Dec. 2, 1912 in Wheeler County Texas, the son of Jim and Edith Brooks. He was a fourth generation Texan as his greatgrandfather moved to Texas from Georgia in about 1850. The family moved a number of times living in west Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Norwyn had fond memories of living near Mena, Arkansas.
The origin of his name is somewhat sketchy. His mother said she saw it in a book somewhere. According to some sources it means "Friend of the North".
The family moved back to Texas when Norwyn was still a boy. They traveled by train to Lampasas when they were met by his grandfather, Josephus Cornelius Brooks. They lived on a farm near the site of the old Rock Church School where his father had attended school. They called the place where they lived the "Poor Farm" for obvious reasons. He attended Clayrock School. Two older schools, Clayton and Rock Church joined to make up the new Clayrock School. He and his older brother James rode to school together on a mule. They had to cross the Lampasas River and ride down a country lane between cotton and corn fields to get to school. One day the mule was startled by a rattlesnake and threw the boys off. Although James sustained a broken arm, they had to continue the rough ride home on the mule.
Norwyn married his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Meredith, Dec. 24, 1935. She lived a few miles down the Lampasas River near Brooks' Crossing. Norwyn and Rachel made their home on the Lampasas River in Rumley. Norwyn started his life, as did most young farm boys of his generation, by plowing with mules, milking cows, picking cotton, butchering hogs, raising chickens, and gardening. There was no electricity in the house, only a battery powered radio, which got a new battery once a year. This was near the time of the great depression and times were really hard. Norwyn worked for as little as seventy five cents a day. In spite of these conditions, the family was very happy. The couple had four children, Cecil, Jeanie, Shirley and Joyce.
Norwyn was drafted and finished his basic training just in time to land on Omaha Beach. He recounted later that the landing was the hardest and longest day of his life. He fought through the Hedge Rows of Belgium, marched through the Arch of Triumph in Paris and ended up guarding King Ludwig's Castles in Bavaria. Norwyn said that they were usually lost and would listen to see if the group they were about to join was speaking English or German. He didn't like General Patton too much, as it was his group's job to "mop up" after the General had passed through the German towns. Many times the Germans would hold their fire until Patton had passed through the town, then the Germans would open fire when the infantry arrived. Norwyn truly was one of the "Greatest Generation".
After his arrival home, he became a carpenter and a home builder, and moved to Lampasas. He was a long time elder in the Church of Christ. He, along with others, built the church in which he served. If he had not suffered a stroke he might have lived to be a hundred, but he is better off now, in Heaven where he can live on forever. His life was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was truly a gentleman, always putting others' needs before his own.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James, and sisters Ava Irvine and Laverne Dennis. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, son Cecil Brooks and wife Evonne of Johnson City, daughters Jeanie Fullingim of Kyle, Joyce Halden and husband Danny of Round Rock, and Shirley Wilborn and husband Paul of Lampasas. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and eight great-greatgrandchildren.
Lampasas Dispatch Record; Lampasas, Texas. February 1, 2008.
Norwyn was born Dec. 2, 1912 in Wheeler County Texas, the son of Jim and Edith Brooks. He was a fourth generation Texan as his greatgrandfather moved to Texas from Georgia in about 1850. The family moved a number of times living in west Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Norwyn had fond memories of living near Mena, Arkansas.
The origin of his name is somewhat sketchy. His mother said she saw it in a book somewhere. According to some sources it means "Friend of the North".
The family moved back to Texas when Norwyn was still a boy. They traveled by train to Lampasas when they were met by his grandfather, Josephus Cornelius Brooks. They lived on a farm near the site of the old Rock Church School where his father had attended school. They called the place where they lived the "Poor Farm" for obvious reasons. He attended Clayrock School. Two older schools, Clayton and Rock Church joined to make up the new Clayrock School. He and his older brother James rode to school together on a mule. They had to cross the Lampasas River and ride down a country lane between cotton and corn fields to get to school. One day the mule was startled by a rattlesnake and threw the boys off. Although James sustained a broken arm, they had to continue the rough ride home on the mule.
Norwyn married his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Meredith, Dec. 24, 1935. She lived a few miles down the Lampasas River near Brooks' Crossing. Norwyn and Rachel made their home on the Lampasas River in Rumley. Norwyn started his life, as did most young farm boys of his generation, by plowing with mules, milking cows, picking cotton, butchering hogs, raising chickens, and gardening. There was no electricity in the house, only a battery powered radio, which got a new battery once a year. This was near the time of the great depression and times were really hard. Norwyn worked for as little as seventy five cents a day. In spite of these conditions, the family was very happy. The couple had four children, Cecil, Jeanie, Shirley and Joyce.
Norwyn was drafted and finished his basic training just in time to land on Omaha Beach. He recounted later that the landing was the hardest and longest day of his life. He fought through the Hedge Rows of Belgium, marched through the Arch of Triumph in Paris and ended up guarding King Ludwig's Castles in Bavaria. Norwyn said that they were usually lost and would listen to see if the group they were about to join was speaking English or German. He didn't like General Patton too much, as it was his group's job to "mop up" after the General had passed through the German towns. Many times the Germans would hold their fire until Patton had passed through the town, then the Germans would open fire when the infantry arrived. Norwyn truly was one of the "Greatest Generation".
After his arrival home, he became a carpenter and a home builder, and moved to Lampasas. He was a long time elder in the Church of Christ. He, along with others, built the church in which he served. If he had not suffered a stroke he might have lived to be a hundred, but he is better off now, in Heaven where he can live on forever. His life was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was truly a gentleman, always putting others' needs before his own.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James, and sisters Ava Irvine and Laverne Dennis. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, son Cecil Brooks and wife Evonne of Johnson City, daughters Jeanie Fullingim of Kyle, Joyce Halden and husband Danny of Round Rock, and Shirley Wilborn and husband Paul of Lampasas. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and eight great-greatgrandchildren.
Lampasas Dispatch Record; Lampasas, Texas. February 1, 2008.
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