Dr. Phillips Vaughn Brooks, 81, of Elkins, West Virginia and Helsinki, Finland, passed away in Helsinki on April 15, 2011. Born in Lewiston, Maine, on August 30, 1929, he was the son of the late Phillips C. Brooks and Doris Annis Brooks. His wife of 38 years, Pauline Hillard, died February 8, 1994. He also is predeceased by his brother Stanwood Gordon Brooks, sister Barbara Jeannette Maroon, a niece, and a nephew.
Survivors include his daughter, Karen Brooks Bowman of Harrisonburg, Virginia, son-in-law Karl A. Bowman, and four step-grandchildren: Jennifer Bowman of Cardiff-by-the-sea, California; Heidi Bowman of College Park, Maryland, and Elizabeth Bowman and Benjamin Bowman, both of Rockingham County, Virginia. Phil also leaves behind several nieces and nephews who will miss their uncle’s wry humor and wit.
Phil Brooks was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and served actively in the US Army from 1947-1956, with final discharge in 1962. As a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Phil had 52 jumps to his credit with 2 of those in combat. At the completion of his military career, he embarked on a career in academia. Studies at the University of Kentucky led to a teaching position at Eastern Kentucky University and graduate studies at George Peabody College for Teachers, now part of Vanderbilt University.
In 1969, he became assistant professor of English at Davis & Elkins College. He went on to chair the English department and direct the general studies program and the creative thinking program. Phil retired from Davis & Elkins in 1999 with Professor Emeritus status.
A five-time Fulbright Scholar over the course of 30 years at Davis & Elkins, he also spent five years teaching in Ankara, Turkey; Lattakia, Syria; and Almaty, Kazakhstan. In 1980, he taught in the University of Colorado’s Semester at Sea program. Phil will be remembered well by people everywhere who were the beneficiaries of his giftedness as a teacher, his passion for travel, and his ability to use both to help students better understand themselves and their place in the world.
A resident of Elkins from 1969-2001, Phil believed in using his talents and abilities to serve the people of the community. In addition to holding leadership positions at Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church, he was a board member of Mountain State Hospice and former president and board member of the Westminster Foundation of West Virginia.
In 2001, shortly after retiring, Phil moved to Helsinki, where he taught part-time for the University of Helsinki and the Renvall Institute for North American Studies. He fought several health issues to remain independent and live life to the fullest among his many friends and colleagues in Helsinki.
Phil’s family and friends will gather for a memorial service at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2011, at Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church. While floral tributes are appreciated, a memorial gift to Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church will have eternal impact. This announcement is a courtesy of the Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins for Dr. Phillips Vaughn Brooks. www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.
