George Brooks

George M. Brooks, 65, of Van Wert, passed away at 7:07 PM on January 27, 2022 at his residence.

He was born on February 9, 1956, in Bluffton, Ohio, the son of the late Gerald and Helen (Burkholder) Brooks. On June 24, 1978, he married the former Altha L. Roloson, who survives.

George was a 1974 graduate of Bluffton High School, a 1978 graduate of The Ohio State University, Columbus, with a Bachelor degree in Agriculture Economics, and a 1990 graduate of the School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.

George worked most of his career as a commercial banker in Lima and Van Wert. He retired in April of 2020 as Market President of Northwest Ohio with First Financial Bank.

George served his community in a multitude of ways. He served 3 terms on the Board of Trustees at The Ohio State University, Lima, where he selected and served on the search committee of OSU Lima Dean and Director, chaired by Nancy H. Rogers. He served (2) 3 year terms as the Ohio State University-Lima representative on the OSU Alumni Association Advisory Council, Steering Committee and 1 year as Council Vice Chair, having served under the leadership of Archie Griffin. He served 5 terms (15 years) on the Board of Directors for the Van Wert County Hospital Association, where he served as Trustee, Vice Chair and Chairman from 2007-2010. He was a board member and past President for the Industrial Development Corp. of Van Wert (currently the BDC of Van Wert County). George also served as a board member for the Van Wert YMCA (1 term), the West Central Development Corporation in Lima and the Lima, Ohio Junior Achievement. For 8 years, he was involved with the Van Wert High School Band Parents Association, having served 2 years as President and 2 years as Treasurer. From 2015-2020, George served as Treasurer on the OSU Alumni Club of Van Wert and Paulding Counties Executive Committee.

George, an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan of Football and Basketball, attended many seasons of Football and Basketball home and away games.

George loved traveling to Seattle, Washington to visit daughter, Lyndsay (Doug) and his two granddaughters, where he enjoyed exploring the area, hiking its trails, fresh seafood and visiting the salmon runs, all with his family. He also enjoyed visits to Charleston, South Carolina to spend time with daughter, Amanda, where he rode the bike paths, participated in the Bridge Run/Walk, walking the area parks and very much enjoyed walking the beaches of both coasts with family.

Surviving are his wife, Altha; daughters, Lyndsay (Doug) Pepple of Seattle, Washington and Amanda Brooks of Charleston, South Carolina; granddaughters, Emily and Brooke Pepple; siblings, Susan (Arman) Habegger of Pandora, Ohio, James (Chris Orton) Brooks of Bluffton, Ohio, and Carole (Bruce) Okuley of Bluffton, Ohio; and nephews, Randy (Dee Poowuttikul) Hart of Detroit, Michigan, Kevin (Valerie Jacobs) Hart of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Eli Okuley of Bluffton, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Helen Brooks.

A memorial visitation will be held from 3:00-7:00 PM on Friday, February 4, 2022 at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, Van Wert.

In keeping with the wishes of George's family, facial coverings and up-to-date vaccinations are required of guests. Social distancing will be observed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in George`s memory may be directed to the Lima Opportunity Scholarship, C/O Leslie Fry, Ohio State Lima Advancement Office, 4240 Campus Dr., Lima, Ohio 45804 (memo: Lima Opportunity Scholarship 317250) or to the Myeloma Crowd/Health Tree Foundation (myelomacrowd.org).

To share in George's online memorial, please visit www.alspachgearhart.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, 722 S Washington Street, Van Wert, OH 45891.