Longtime Abington Fire Co Member Harle Brooks Dies At 101

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — A longtime member of Abington Township's first responder community died recently.

Harle "Buster" Hathaway Brooks, died Dec. 21. He was 101.

According to his obituary published by Helweg & Rowland Funeral Home, Brooks joined the Abington Fire Company after returning to the Philadelphia area in 1957, serving as assistant chief for seven years.

He still attended the fire company meetings well into his 90s.

Masonic Service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday with a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. at Abington Presbyterian Church, 1082 Old York Road, Abington.

Friends will be received at the church from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Abington Township Fire Department, 1176 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001.

Read the full obituary below, courtesy of Helweg & Rowland Funeral Home:

Harle Hathaway Brooks, age 101, a resident of Meadowbrook, PA, died on December 21, 2023. He was the devoted husband of the late Blanche Krapf Brooks. Buster met Blanche when she was 14 and he was 16. They were together until her death in 1987.

Born in Philadelphia on October 20, 1922, he was the son of the late Frank Burhanna Brooks and the late Elsie Townsend. Buster, as he is known to his family, was born at less than 2 pounds and was not expected to survive the night. His first bed was a cigar box. He graduated to a shoe box and the rest is history! Being the youngest of three children, Buster had a sister named Elsie and brother named Bud. His father was an engineer on the Reading Railroad and his mother was a working woman of the 20s selling singer sewing machines door to door.

Buster joined the Navy and was stationed in Jacksonville Naval Air Station. While there, he trained in the gunnery school, flew in PBY's (patrol bombers) up and down the east coast of Florida looking for submarines. He decided he didn't like the idea of jumping out of a plane when he knew he would be deployed soon so he transferred then to the motor pool and then onto the Commissary, where he learned how to bake. After receiving his orders, he was given nine days leave and returned home to Philadelphia, married Blanche and took a train to California. He was deployed from San Francisco on the USS West Point to the South Pacific, where he stayed for the remainder of WWII, travelling from island to island. When asked which islands, Buster's response was "It's not like they have signs up on these tiny islands". He spent most of his time on the British side of New Guinea, stationed at PT Base #2 on the southernmost tip of New Guinea.

Buster returned home, in 1945, when the war was over. He and Blanche had their first daughter, Barbie, a true "Baby Boomer" in 1946. He joined his father on the Reading Railroad as a Conductor. Buster remained employed there through a few transitions, from Reading, to Conrail to Septa, retiring at 61 years old after a fall off a train. He was union spokesperson for many years.

In 1946, Buster joined the Marine Reserves in Philadelphia and was called to active duty in 1950. The family then moved to Parris Island, Florida, where he went through boot camp and remained for 2 years.

In 1957, he returned to Philadelphia, moving his family to the suburbs. He joined Abington Fire Company as acted as Assistant Chief for 7 years. Blanche was the head of the Ladies Auxiliary. Buster and Blanche welcomed their second daughter, Beth, in 1958. Almost 12 years after their first daughter, it was new territory for the old couple! A baby, AGAIN???

Buster was an active Mason since 1976, a Shriner since 1979, now inactive, and still attended his Railroad Banquets monthly and his monthly Abington Fire Company meetings well into his late 90s.

Buster enjoyed his extended family from the Terminal Restaurant in Willow Grove who were always so kind to him. He enjoyed a deep and lasting friendship with Mabel Curran for many years.

Being surrounded by his family and friends made him the happiest. His fur buddy, Dora, who he called "Kitty Kitty" was always at his side.

In addition to his daughter Barbara Brooks Niguidula, son-in-law Nick Niguidula and daughter Beth Brooks, he is survived by 11 grandchildren: David, Diane, Susan, Danny, Nancy, Kathy, Andrew, Nicole, Steve, John and Lia, 16 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Masonic Service will be conducted at 10:00 AM and Memorial Service at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 29, 2023, Abington Presbyterian Church, 1082 Old York Road, Abington, PA, where friends will be received from 9:30 – 10:00 AM and from 10:15 – 11:00 AM. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery.

On lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Abington Township Fire Department, 1176 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001.