Billy G. Brooks died Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in his apartment in Green Valley, AZ, surrounded by his family. He was born on his family's farm in North Texas, January 4, 1926, to Eual and Gertrude Brooks. He outlived his 2 brothers, Elwood and Joe, and youngest sister, Joan Henderson. He is survived by his sisters, Anna Beth Graf and Pat Reed; his wife of 71 years, Jean: his children, Elizabeth Brooks, Barbara Brooks, Linda Atkins, Cheryl Hannan and Braden Brooks; 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Bill learned to work hard on the farm. After high school and working his father's farm, he followed his older brother, Elwood, to North Texas State University. His education was interrupted by a couple of years in the Army Air Force and WWII. With a degree in physical education, he got a job detecting oil fields with seismic methods. This morphed into a secret project for the U.S. Government of detecting atomic explosions. He met his wife, Jean Upshaw, also working the project as a mathematician, in Laramie, WY. They married September 11, 1952.

Bill received his Masters degree in geology, from the University of Wyoming. He traveled the world for his job. He loved meeting people from everywhere; he found the same variety of intelligence and personalities among everyone, in contradiction to the prejudices he learned in his youth. The job took his family of 5 children to Alexandria, VA and then to Indialantic, FL. He retired in 1987 and moved to Green Valley, AZ. His interests included collecting rocks and computerized investing. His love language was service: he expressed this in serving his country, his family, his neighbors and his friends.