Theodore Lincoln Brooks Sr.

Theodore Lincoln Brooks, Sr. March 30, 1919 – April 12, 2011 Theodore "Ted" L. Brooks, Sr., age 92, of Montrose passed away at his home on Tuesday, April 12, 2011. Ted was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, March 30, 1919, to the Rev. Arthur A. Brooks and Clara Mason Brooks. He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Arthur and Lee Culver Brooks. He married Marian Ruth Inhelder, March 31, 1939, who predeceased him in 1982. He is survived by their three children, Theodore Lincoln Brooks, Jr., John Alford Brooks, and Ann Brooks Carr, and four grandchildren, Essie (Bob) Becker of Montrose; Marian (Tom) Omernik of Montrose; Mason Brooks, Joint Task Force, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Aaron Brooks of Montrose. Ted attended Cornell College, the University of Nebraska and graduated from the University of Colorado and the University of Colorado, School of Law in 1943. He served in World War II in the pacific theater on Admiral Nimitz's staff as a naval intelligence officer after completing the Japanese language school at the University of Colorado. He moved his family to Montrose in 1946, where he practiced law until his retirement in 1997. He first practiced in the firm of Bryant and Petrie, before starting an individual practice with Ralph Miller in the firm of Brooks and Miller. Several other attorneys later joined the firm, including John Overholser, Jerry Lincoln, his son, John Brooks, Bob White, and his grandson, Aaron Brooks. During his legal career he was elected and served as the District Attorney of the Seventh Judicial District from 1953 to 1957. In 1982 Ted was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Colorado River Water Conservation District and elected President of the Board in 1987, serving as its president for eight years, retiring as President upon the successful completion of the Wolford Mountain Project. He served as legal counsel for Tri-County Water Conservancy District for 25 years and Montrose Memorial Hospital for 40 years. He represented the citizen of the community of Naturita in its incorporation in 1952. He was one of the founders of the Project Seven Water Authority and the San Juan Health Care Foundation. He was honored by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Colorado Legislature for his distinguished years of service to the citizens of Western Colorado. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the San Juan Healthcare Foundation, 800 South Third Street, Montrose, CO 81401. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at The United Methodist Church of Montrose. The service will conclude at the church, with a private family inurnment with Military Honors to be held at Cedar Cemetery, Montrose. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, CO.