Barbara S. Brooks
August 5, 1941 ~ July 21, 2016
On August 5, 1941, Barbara Sue Julius, the third of four children born to Frederic and Ada Julius of Lancaster Pennsylvania made her entrance into the world and was welcomed by older sister Patricia (Pat) and older brother Frederic (Fred). When Barbara (called Sue in those days) was one year old, the family moved into a home on Eden Road where she grew up. When she was five, her baby brother Robert (Bob), to whom she was particularly close, arrived to complete the family.
Her childhood gave some clues to the adult Barbara. She loved music and sang in the children's choir at church until, at age 15, she joined the adult choir. Kept out of school for a year with polio, she showed the fighting spirit and independence she would display in later years and recovered with only a slightly weakened leg. She made lifelong friends, with whom she was still in touch a half century after leaving Lancaster.
Following graduation from Manheim Township High School in 1959, Barbara enrolled in a three-year nursing diploma program at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, becoming a Registered Nurse in 1962. She returned home and worked at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lancaster for two years, while earning a Bachelor's degree from Millersville State College (now Millersville University).
Life changed dramatically in 1961 when her nursing school roommate persuaded Barbara to go on a blind date with a young Navy officer named Linton Brooks. Although she returned from that date claiming she had met the man she would marry, it took Linton two and a half years to seal the deal. The couple were married on October 24, 1964 in Lancaster. As is typical in the military, over the next 15 years they moved frequently, living in upstate New York, Groton, Connecticut, Honolulu, Hawaii, Washington, DC, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They were thrilled to welcome two daughters, Julie Kristen Brooks in 1969 and Kathryn Linton Brooks (Katie) in 1972. After the birth of her daughters, Barbara left the full time practice of nursing. She became a childbirth educator, teaching the Lamaze technique in her home. In 1976, while the family was living in South Berwick Maine, she began helping at daughter Katie's cooperative preschool. There she discovered her love of and talent for teaching music to preschool and elementary school children. She had a marvelous rapport with children, especially those in early childhood. For much of the next 28 years she used her talents to teach music at Girl Scout camp, at a Performing Arts Academy, at six different preschools and in private lessons at her home.
In late1979, Barbara and her family moved to Northern Virginia, where they would remain for the rest of her life. In addition to her music, she was active in Girl Scouts, leading two different troops and presenting music programs at Girl Scout Day Camp. She was presented with the Ashgrove Award by the Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital for her efforts. She was heavily involved in Parent Teacher Associations at her daughters' schools and in 1987 helped establish the first all-night drug and alcohol free graduation party at George C. Marshall High School. In 1991 the Vienna Optimist Club honored Barbara for "dedicated service to the Marshall High School Community." She helped found the Chase Hill Civic Association in her neighborhood and served as both an officer and the newsletter editor.
Barbara joined the congregation of Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, Virginia in 1987 and remained a member until her death. She visited the sick as an ordained Deacon, served for several years as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Lewinsville Retirement Residence (a facility created and operated by the Lewinsville congregation) and was active in the ChristCare small group ministry. She took the most pleasure of all in the decades she spent in the choir where she could combine her love of music and of people.
She and Linton enjoyed theater, music, travel, ballet and one another. Throughout their marriage, they traveled extensively, both with and without their daughters. Together they visited Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy and Switzerland, as well as traveling extensively within the United States. Barbara especially loved the months she spent in Geneva when Linton was taking part in international negotiations. But there was never any question that her greatest love was her family. She and Linton rejoiced on March 29, 2008 when daughter Kathryn married Chris Karlovich and again on April 12, 2014 when daughter Julie married Michael Blake. Barbara loved and admired both her sons-in-law. Her happiness was complete on December 26, 2014 when Kathryn and Chris presented the family with grandson Alexander Linton Karlovich. She spent five months in early 2015 helping to take care of him and looked forward to being a continuing part of his life as he grew up.
Unfortunately, that was not to be. In February 2016, Barbara fell ill, gradually weakening until she entered the hospital in late June. She never stopped fighting to get better but her system was too compromised. On July 21, she died peacefully with her husband and older daughter holding her hand. In addition to Linton, she is survived by her children, Julie Brooks and Michael Blake of Washington DC and Kathryn Brooks and Chris Karlovich of Belmont California, her grandson Alex, her mother Ada Julius (age 104) of Port Orange, Florida, her sister Patricia (Pat) McGonegal and her husband Bill, her brother Frederic (Fred) Julius and his wife Marcia, nine grandnieces, grandnephews and nephews, numerous cousins and many friends. Her brother Robert predeceased her.
Barbara had many talents and many accomplishments. She loved life and she loved people. But in her mind, and in that of her family, she was above all a wife, mother and grandmother. At her memorial service, Linton read these words from Proverbs 30:
A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels...
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'
We shall love, miss and remember her always.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Her childhood gave some clues to the adult Barbara. She loved music and sang in the children's choir at church until, at age 15, she joined the adult choir. Kept out of school for a year with polio, she showed the fighting spirit and independence she would display in later years and recovered with only a slightly weakened leg. She made lifelong friends, with whom she was still in touch a half century after leaving Lancaster.
Following graduation from Manheim Township High School in 1959, Barbara enrolled in a three-year nursing diploma program at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, becoming a Registered Nurse in 1962. She returned home and worked at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lancaster for two years, while earning a Bachelor's degree from Millersville State College (now Millersville University).
Life changed dramatically in 1961 when her nursing school roommate persuaded Barbara to go on a blind date with a young Navy officer named Linton Brooks. Although she returned from that date claiming she had met the man she would marry, it took Linton two and a half years to seal the deal. The couple were married on October 24, 1964 in Lancaster. As is typical in the military, over the next 15 years they moved frequently, living in upstate New York, Groton, Connecticut, Honolulu, Hawaii, Washington, DC, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They were thrilled to welcome two daughters, Julie Kristen Brooks in 1969 and Kathryn Linton Brooks (Katie) in 1972. After the birth of her daughters, Barbara left the full time practice of nursing. She became a childbirth educator, teaching the Lamaze technique in her home. In 1976, while the family was living in South Berwick Maine, she began helping at daughter Katie's cooperative preschool. There she discovered her love of and talent for teaching music to preschool and elementary school children. She had a marvelous rapport with children, especially those in early childhood. For much of the next 28 years she used her talents to teach music at Girl Scout camp, at a Performing Arts Academy, at six different preschools and in private lessons at her home.
In late1979, Barbara and her family moved to Northern Virginia, where they would remain for the rest of her life. In addition to her music, she was active in Girl Scouts, leading two different troops and presenting music programs at Girl Scout Day Camp. She was presented with the Ashgrove Award by the Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital for her efforts. She was heavily involved in Parent Teacher Associations at her daughters' schools and in 1987 helped establish the first all-night drug and alcohol free graduation party at George C. Marshall High School. In 1991 the Vienna Optimist Club honored Barbara for "dedicated service to the Marshall High School Community." She helped found the Chase Hill Civic Association in her neighborhood and served as both an officer and the newsletter editor.
Barbara joined the congregation of Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, Virginia in 1987 and remained a member until her death. She visited the sick as an ordained Deacon, served for several years as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Lewinsville Retirement Residence (a facility created and operated by the Lewinsville congregation) and was active in the ChristCare small group ministry. She took the most pleasure of all in the decades she spent in the choir where she could combine her love of music and of people.
She and Linton enjoyed theater, music, travel, ballet and one another. Throughout their marriage, they traveled extensively, both with and without their daughters. Together they visited Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy and Switzerland, as well as traveling extensively within the United States. Barbara especially loved the months she spent in Geneva when Linton was taking part in international negotiations. But there was never any question that her greatest love was her family. She and Linton rejoiced on March 29, 2008 when daughter Kathryn married Chris Karlovich and again on April 12, 2014 when daughter Julie married Michael Blake. Barbara loved and admired both her sons-in-law. Her happiness was complete on December 26, 2014 when Kathryn and Chris presented the family with grandson Alexander Linton Karlovich. She spent five months in early 2015 helping to take care of him and looked forward to being a continuing part of his life as he grew up.
Unfortunately, that was not to be. In February 2016, Barbara fell ill, gradually weakening until she entered the hospital in late June. She never stopped fighting to get better but her system was too compromised. On July 21, she died peacefully with her husband and older daughter holding her hand. In addition to Linton, she is survived by her children, Julie Brooks and Michael Blake of Washington DC and Kathryn Brooks and Chris Karlovich of Belmont California, her grandson Alex, her mother Ada Julius (age 104) of Port Orange, Florida, her sister Patricia (Pat) McGonegal and her husband Bill, her brother Frederic (Fred) Julius and his wife Marcia, nine grandnieces, grandnephews and nephews, numerous cousins and many friends. Her brother Robert predeceased her.
Barbara had many talents and many accomplishments. She loved life and she loved people. But in her mind, and in that of her family, she was above all a wife, mother and grandmother. At her memorial service, Linton read these words from Proverbs 30:
A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels...
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'
We shall love, miss and remember her always.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Linton and family, I am so sorry for your loss but grateful that you shared her story–your story. Over the years, I often heard you speak of your wife and your family and, as with everything, you spoke of them with love and passion. I hope the memories of a beautiful life, so well lived, provide you comfort. With love and deepest sympathy, Joyce