Chester Burdette Brooke

BROOKE- Chester Burdette Brooke, beloved husband and father, died Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Born on June 24, 1920 in Watseka, Illinois, Chester grew up in Illinois and graduated from Chester High School in 1938. He enlisted in the Army on 20 August 1940, served as a Tech Sergeant on B-17s in Panama, and received his Honorable Discharge at Chanute Field from Squadron A, 3008th AAF Base Unit on 21 October 1945. Chet met his future wife, Winnie Blount, in Roswell, New Mexico in late 1944. They married in Tulare, California, shortly before VJ Day, 1945, while Chet was in flight school. After the war, they moved to Denver where Chet received his Chemical Engineering degree (with the help of the GI Bill) from the University of Denver in March, 1949. Shortly after graduation Chet began working at the Oil Shale Demonstration Plant in Anvil Points, Colorado. As the Demonstration Plant wound down, Chet started a career with Shell Oil Company lasting 28 years. He began at the Wood River, Illinois refinery in 1954. He later transferred to Shell's Geismar Chemical Plant (close to Baton Rouge, Louisiana), then the Shell Wilmington Refinery (near Los Angeles, California). Chet enjoyed Barbershop singing. He was a member of the Ethical Society while living in the St. Louis area. He had a life-long interest in automobiles. When he wrote Our Cars he used make and model to frame the history of family and friends. Chet retired in 1982 when he and Winn moved to Albuquerque where he was active in the Highland, North Valley, and Bear Canyon senior centers. He participated in the Bear Canyon Computer Users Group, but he loved hiking. He led and documented hikes in the beautiful New Mexico countryside. He also enjoyed providing volunteer service at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico. Chester Brooke was 88 when he died. His spouse and two children survive him: Winn Brooke of Albuquerque, Chester Burr Brooke (Nancy Poindexter) of Houston, and Cindy Brooke Hughes (Richard Hughes) of La Grange, Illinois. Memorial donations may be sent to the Heart Hospital of New Mexico, 504 Elm Street NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, or the charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010