Willard Neal (Bill) Brooks, 93, of New Marshfield, passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at Kimes Nursing and Rehab Center. Born in Carbondale, Ohio on September 1, 1921, Bill was the son of Bessie and Marve Brooks. He loved to share his memories of his childhood in Carbondale of hunting, fishing, swimming in the reservoir and playing baseball. When he was 17 years old, he tried out for the Cincinnati Reds and briefly signed with a St. Louis Cardinals minor league team on the recommendation of Estel Crabtree, an early baseball mentor. Bill worked as a coal miner, like his father, until the start of WWII, when he enlisted with the US Marine Corps. He completed basic training at Parris Island, SC, before being sent to College Station, TX, where he trained as a radio operator and eventually to Santa Barbara, CA. While away from home, he corresponded with his high school sweetheart, Elsie Stright, who traveled by train from New Marshfield to Santa Barbara, where they were married on March 5, 1943. Bill subsequently served for 14 months in the Marshall Islands as a radio operator and finished his military career as a Tech Sergeant. He remembered the entire Morse Code the rest of his life. He was very proud of his years in the Marine Corps. Bill was a graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Agriculture and was a member of the OU Baseball Team. He and Elsie bought a farm outside of New Marshfield, and Bill worked for the Tennessee Gas Transmission Company near Albany for 35 years, rising to District Superintendent until his retirement in 1985. He was an early board member of the Le-Ax Water District, and was instrumental in securing water pipelines for rural communities. In recent years, Bill became a regular, active member of Union United Methodist Church. He maintained his membership in the American Legion and was a 50- year-plus member of the Constitution Lodge (Masonic) of New Marshfield. Bill was the definition of “gentleman farmer.” He enjoyed raising cattle and tending a robust garden each year. Summer vacations were always spent on the farm. While he spoke often and passionately about his travels during the war, he would rather be on the farm than any place else. In the late 1960s, Bill began planting trees (over 40,000), later earning Ohio Tree Farm certification and the designation as the 1000th tree farm in the state. He and Elsie sold strawberries from their garden each summer and grew all the vegetables the family needed. Every year, he would pick the family Christmas tree from his acreage. Bill loved to hunt and always had a beagle dog (“Duke” was the most-used name throughout the years). He helped coach his sons’ baseball teams and remained a Cincinnati Reds fan throughout his life, rarely missing a game on TV or the radio. During his later years, Bill liked nothing more than visiting with his family and friends, old and new. He is survived by sons- Randy Brooks of Parkersburg, WV, Eric (Jackie) Brooks of New Marshfield, and Greg (Carol) Brooks of Hillsborough, NC; daughters- Suzanne Korner of New Marshfield; Jennifer Brooks-Eckard (Steve) of Raleigh, NC and Julie Brooks of Albany; Grandchildren- Jeremy (Rachel) Polley, Noelle (Wesley) Pierce, Erin Brooks (fiancé, Keith Horst), Jody (Adam) Carney, Matthew (Kimberly) Brooks, Adam (Anna) Brooks, Leslie Brooks, Jay (Julie) Riley, Jerry Dishong, Cody Richards, Chad Stanley, Kate Eckard; 12 great-grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Roger (Bonnie) Stright; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elsie, on January 22, 2014; a daughter, Lora Brooks; son-in-law, Bill Korner; brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and June Brooks; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Helen and Robert Harold Stright; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dan and Marjorie Stright; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Adelaide Stright Dunn and Claire Dunn. Bill’s family wishes to thank the nursing staff of Hospice of Kimes for their wonderful care and support during his illness. Funeral Services, conducted by Rev. Joyce Smith, will be held Saturday at 12:00 Noon at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens. Burial will be in the New Marshfield Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 2-4 and 6-8pm at the funeral home. Military rites will be conducted by K.T. Crossen Post 21 American Legion, VFW Post 3477 and VFW Post 9893 Honor Guards at the cemetery. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.