Richmond, ME- William (Bill) Fuller Brooks, Jr., 81 of Richmond, Maine, passed away peacefully at home on March 4, 2024 from severe COPD and emphysema. Born in Augusta, Maine,  he was the son of William F. Brooks, Sr., of Jaffrey, NH and Ida E. Brooks of Winthrop ME.

As a baby he lived in Winthrop and Northeast Harbor5, ME with his mother and sister while his father was in the service during WWII. They moved to Jaffrey, NH when he was a child. He attended Jaffrey schools through graduation at Conant High School in 1961. He was an Honor student with a genius IQ.  He won the High School Science Fair in Physics his senior year, played trombone in the school band, was on the soccer team and was class Vice President. Bill was the first Cadet Commander of the newly formed Jaffrey Civil Air Patrol Squadron, an auxiliary branch of the U.S. Air Force.

In 1961 he married Merrilee Fiske of Temple, NH.

He had wanted to attend M.I.T. to study Nuclear Physics, instead he settled for a paying job with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He entered a four year apprenticeship in nuclear submarine shipbuilding. After graduation and several more years he achieved the position of Production Shop Planner. In 1971, he was promoted to Planner and Estimator Machinery Systems  at the Navy's Ship Repair Facility, Guam. During this time, he provided maintenance support to ships serving in Vietnam, and was Project Officer for several battle damaged ships traveling from Guam back to Hawaii and San Diego. Bill received several performance awards for his efforts.

After leaving Guam in 1975, he worked for the Navy in San Diego as a Production Controller, a Ship Surveyor, and as an Advance Planning Ship Repair Project Officer. In 1979, he transferred to the Navy Office at Bath Iron Works Shipyard in ME. There he was a Production Controller, Project Officer, Contract Negotiator, Procurement Analyst, and Supervisory Contract Cost/Price Analyst. 

In late 1990 he was selected to be the Principal Marine Surveyor and civilian head at the Navy's Ship Repair Unit Detachment in Bahrain to provide contracted fleet support to Naval vessels during the first Persian Gulf War Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.  He left Bahrain in the summer of 1993 and returned to Bath Iron works. His career with the Navy lasted 32 years until taking early retirement at age 50. 

In 1993 Bill returned to the Middle East, this time to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he was hired by an Arab company to operate a ship repair facility which became known as DULSCO Marine Engineering Services. He operated the company repairing U.S. and foreign naval ships and commercial vessels as well as accomplishing industrial engineering work, petrochemical projects, tank cleaning, and hazardous waste cleanup and transportation. He resigned at age 58 for full retirement in Maine.

William is survived by his wife of 62 years, Merrilee, daughter Robin Cavanagh, son, William III, and granddaughter Samantha. 

No service is planned at this time, Bill will be cremated per his wishes.

Donations can be made in his name to: 

CHANS

Home Health & Hospice

45 Baribeau Dr.

Brunswick, ME 04011

In memory of William Brooks for Nursing Services 

Arrangements are under the care of Kincer Funeral Home, 130 Pleasant St., Richmond, ME  04357