Rex E. Brooks

Rex E Brooks, 95, of New Castle, IN passed away on January 20, 2018 at the home of his daughter, Peggy MacFarlane of Greenwood, IN. He was born in Shelby County, Indiana on February 18, 1922 to Charles and Dessie Brooks. Rex had two sisters and six brothers, all of whom preceded him in death. He was a devoted and loving husband to his wife, Mildred Beam Brooks, for over 72 years. They were married on June 12, 1943 in Cochran, Georgia prior to his departure for Europe during WWII. They had three children- Jerry Brooks from Sugar Land, TX, Tom Brooks who was killed in an automobile accident on December 5, 2004 and Peggy MacFarlane of Greenwood, IN. He had five grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

As a WWII veteran of the United States Army Air Corp, he landed on the Normandy shores on the third day of the invasion of Europe by Allied Forces. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

Rex was a graduate of Indiana State Teachers College. He was hired to teach at Plainville, IN in 1940 prior to graduating. He continued his education and received a MA degree from the University of Illinois.

Many of you knew Rex in a variety of ways. He taught school for 39 years, he coached for 29 years consisting of baseball, basketball and even football. He started farming by renting, then owning 40 acres and then two farms in Henry County. He sold advertising, grain bins, and vinyl fence. He taught Sunday school at the Spiceland Friends Church and was eager to lend a hand to anyone in need. He loved his John Deere tractors, even if Jerry did turn one of them over. He was known as a hard-working man.

Rex worked one summer for the most famous basketball coach of all times, John Wooden. He played basketball against baseball great Gill Hodges. He had both Johnny Bench and Pete Rose help conduct baseball camps. He was a good friend of Marvin Woods, a New Castle basketball coach, he coached the Milan team that beat Muncie Central in the state championship game – the movie Hoosiers was based on that game.

Rex and three college buddies produced a record while attending Indiana State. It did not break the top 10.

At age 92, his doctor told him to stop cutting down trees for firewood. Rex responded, “I am not dead yet!” He loved his wood burning stove on those cold winter days. He and Mildred snowbirded to Florida for 11 years and developed a wonderful group of friends in the park where they owned the newest mobile home with a front porch.

He always liked to say that he and Mildred never argued. When they did have a disagreement, he said, “Mildred was usually right.”

Services will be at 11:00a.m. Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with David Brock officiating. Burial will follow in Lewisville Cemetery with military rites conducted by the VFW/American Legion and U.S. Army.
Visitation will be from 4-8p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be given to the Spiceland Friends Church. Memories or condolences may be shared at www.hinsey-brown.com .