Ralph Joseph Brooking

Ralph Joseph "Jim" Brooking, Jr., Junction City, died on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at Valley View Senior Life Center. A visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 4, 2012 at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, 203 N. Washington St.. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 with Fr. Al Brungardt officiating. Burial will follow at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery, 5181 Wildcat Creek Rd., Manhattan, KS with full military honors. The family has requested that memorial contributions in Ralph's memory be made to the American Cancer Society, 1315 SW Arrowhead, Topeka, KS 66604.

Ralph was born on July 7, 1945 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania to Ralph and Margaret (Ross) Brooking. He spent most of his early childhood there and graduated from Susquehanna High School. He enlisted in the United States Army when he was 17.

Following his completion of basic training, he married Mary Lou Hall on September 7, 1963 in Rock Lake, Pennsylvania. As a military family, Ralph and Mary Lou made their home in many different states. While he was in the military, Ralph graduated from Columbia College in Missouri with an Associates degree. In 1983, Ralph retired from the military and he and Mary Lou made their final home in Junction City, Kansas.

Ralph worked for Brinks Armored Car service in Topeka, starting out as a driver and eventually worked his way up to branch manager. He worked there for over ten years. Most recently, he worked as a sales associate at the Wal-Mart in Junction City.

He was a regular bowler as part of the Thursday night Men's League and also the Wednesday Rowdy Mix at the Junction City Bowl. He was a member of the American Legion Post #45 and he and Mary Lou were members of St. Xavier's Catholic Church.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Lou of Junction City; by one daughter, Mary Garcia of Junction City; by two sons, David and wife Laura Brooking of Elizabeth City, NC and Robert and wife Beth Brooking of Fort Walton Beach, FL. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Matthew Bond, David Pratt, Joseph Brooking, Grant Bond, Kristian Garcia and by 3 great-grandchildren, Christopher Bond, Tyler Bond, and Madison Bond. Other survivors include his brother, Richard Brooking of Florida and his sister, Marjorie Kay Peters of Salina, KS. Ralph was preceded in death by three of his daughters, Theresa Pratt, Christine Brooking, Margaret Brooking and by his parents, Ralph Sr. and Margaret Brooking.