Troy Gene Brooks, 82, of Fairfield, Virginia, beloved husband, father, and brother, passed away at home on October 25, 2006.

Born February 26, 1924 on hazel Creek in what is now part of the Smokey Mountain National Park and raised in Swain County, he was the son of the late Lawrence Edward and Elsie Davis Brooks.

He graduated from Swain County High School.

Mr. Brooks volunteered for service with the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and flew combat missions as an aerial gunner on a B-29 in the Pacific Theatre of Operations with the 457th Bomb Squadron, 330th Bomb Group, 314 Bomb Wing.

Following his wartime service, he returned to work at the Newport News shipyard before attending the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) Apprentice School, predecessor of the current National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

He resided in Newport News and worked as an engineering technician at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA in the Metals Fabrication Division until his retirement in 1980.

During his younger days, he enjoyed golf, bowling, and duplicate bridge. After retirement, Gene and his wife moved to a small farm in the Shenandoah Valley at Fairfield, where he built their retirement home and enjoyed tending his large vegetable garden, beehives, and fruit orchard.

Mr. Brooks is survived by his wife of over sixty years, Naomi Frances "Freddie" Wood Brooks of Fairfield. He is also survived by daughters Linda Banwarth and her husband, Stephen, of Aiken, SC; Sandra Lewis and her husband, John, of Roanoke, VA; and son Kevin Addison Brooks and his wife, Laurie of Fairfield.

He was predeceased by a son, Larry Allen Brooks and two sisters, Gladys Harrington and Joyce Seay. He is also survived by six siblings: sisters, Berdess Jarvis of Leicester, NC; Opal Aldridge of Shirely, AR; Fern Hardin of Montgomery, AL; Kate Frederick of Stone Mountain, GA; and brothers Hugh Brooks of Bremerton, WA and John Brooks of Gold Hill, OR. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, one great grandchild, and another great grandchild on the way.

Visitation will be held at the Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, VA from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, October 27, 2006. A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2006 in the Fairfield Cemetery with Rev. Jim Simmons officiating. The family requests no flowers; if desired, donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Rockbridge Hospice, 129 S. Randolph St., P. O. Box 948, Lexington, VA. 24450 or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Arrangements are being handled by the Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, VA.