Lincolnton, NC Stephen Eugene Brooks was born April 23, 1949 in Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away suddenly on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Stephen is preceded in death by his beloved grandparents, James Milton Johnson and Annie May Johnson, his father, Ralph Howard Brooks, mother, Nancy Johnson Parker, brother, Ralph Howard “Buddy” Brooks Jr., and sister, Ellen Marie Brooks. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marilyn Hough Brooks, his daughter, Suzanne Elizabeth Brooks, his son, Jonathan Stephen Brooks, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and precious “fur baby” companions Charlie, Tucker, and Lila. Stephen was a devoted and loving husband and father. His greatest joy was his family and sharing life with them. His love and patience went beyond measure. He was always quick with an impeccable impression or a witty remark to lighten the mood and was quite the slap-stick comedian. Hollywood missed out on his many talents. Stephen was a gifted artist, an eloquent writer, and a skillful photographer. He was a connoisseur of music, and was very technically skilled, as evidenced by the time he spent working at Microsoft. Stephen possessed a broad and deep range of knowledge and had many interests. He could carry on a conversation with anyone making them feel at ease. He was truly a Renaissance man and lived many lives in one. Stephen is a veteran of the United States Air Force and served in Vietnam. He attended Old Dominion University and Belmont Abbey College, studying graphic design and computer science. Prior to his Air Force service, Stephen was a disc jockey and announcer at a Raleigh radio station. Upon returning from his military service, Stephen was a police dispatcher for the city of Raleigh, a field he returned to later in his career with the Department of the Navy in Virginia. His love of aviation led him to work with Eastern Airlines, in multiple positions and locations across the country. During his time with Eastern, he met Marilyn, his bride. They worked together there until Eastern ceased operations. Stephen and Marilyn then started their own business, Travel Linc, a travel agency in Lincolnton. After his many other accomplishments, and drawn by his appreciation for nature, Stephen earned the opportunity to work for the National Park Service. He retired in 2016 to spend more time with his family. But Marilyn had other plans, Stephen worked along side her in real estate with the Allen Tate Company. He was her biggest encourager. Stephen’s memorial service will be held 12:00pm Friday, October 26, 2018 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 216 South Aspen St, Lincolnton, North Carolina. McLean Funeral Home in Gastonia is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, www.dav.org/help-dav/donate-to-dav/memorial-honorary-gifts/ or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the Brooks family online at www.mcleanfuneral.com