Robert Brooks
Robert Brooks

Obituary of Robert Franklin Brooks

Winter Haven- Dr. Robert Franklin Brooks died in the evening of 03-04-12 of renal failure at the Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. He was 83 years old. Robert Brooks was born March 17, 1928 near Columbus, Ohio. He grew up enjoying the woods and the river near Worthington, Ohio. He loved baseball and sports. He played high school baseball and later semi-pro baseball. Robert attended the Ohio State University. He was a member of the Navy ROTC. While attending college, he was called up to active service twice. During his last deployment as an Ensign, he was transferred to US Marine Corp where he became commissioned as a Lieutenant and deployed to Korea. He arrived in Korea during the "Bug-Out" and took an active roll in combat action throughout his tour of duty. When he returned home from Korea, he finished his studies at OSU and attended the University of Wisconsin in order to obtain his PHD in Entomology. While in Wisconsin, he met his wife, Harriet through her sister. The two of them got married on October 31st, 1959. Almost a year later, the couple had a son and traveled to Winter Haven Florida, where Robert took a job with the Experiment Station in Lake Alfred. During the next twenty seven years, Robert Brooks worked for the State of Florida IFAS on many experiments and projects. One of his more well-known accomplishments involved his introduction of the Hong Kong Wasp to control snow scale, a serious citrus pest at that time. Through this natural introduction of a parasite, Dr. Robert Brooks became one of the pioneers in Integrated Pest Management. Dr. Brooks also was one of the proponents of the use and development of spray oils on citrus. He was well known in the Citrus community and made many friends. He held office in the Florida Entomology Society and his work was published in several books. He retired with the State of Florida in 1987. He started his own business, Brooks Citrus Consulting, which was contracted by Sun Oil until 2004. Dr. Brooks traveled to Texas and California as well as the countries he traveled to, on behalf of citrus, including Honduras, Brazil, Uragway, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Russia, China, Spain, South Africa and Japan. Robert Brooks was member of Grace Lutheran Church in Winter Haven for most of his life in. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, cabinet work and watching sports. He was a member of the Kiwanis. He was a devoted Cincinnati Reds fan and a Greenbay "Packer Backer". He is survived by his wife, his son, his daughter-in-law, two step-grand daughters and four step-great grand daughters. The family will receive friends from 4:00pm till 6:00pm, Thursday, March 8, 2012 at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Winter Haven. A graveside service will be held a1 1:00pm, Friday, Marhc 9, 2012 at Florida National Cemetery. The Family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale and the Disabled American Veterans Association.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Oak Ridge Funeral Care - Haines City
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