James Ivey Brooks

James Ivey Brooks, 77, of Chambersburg passed away March 13, 2018. He was the husband of Bette Mae (Holderman) Brooks, to whom he was married 50 years. Ivey was born in Warrenton, NC. He was a son of the late James M. and Olive (Ivey) Brooks Hecht. Ivey graduated from Norlina High School in 1959 and attended NC State College. He then enlisted in the US Air Force as an electronic intercept operator, and was an instructor in electronic radar analysis. Following his military service he was employed with the Department of Defense at the National Security Agency as an Electronic Research Analyst. He served tours of duty in Maryland, California, and Colorado and retired with 30 years of Federal Service. He saved many US pilots in Vietnam due to a discovery he made on the Radar Missile Weapons System, and even had one pilot look him up years later in California to thank him. Ivey was an instructor in the Air Force teaching electronics and analysis from 1962-1963. In addition to his wife Bette, he is survived by his four children James E. Brooks of Boulder, CO, Bruce O. Brooks of Smithburg, MD, Patrick O. Brooks and wife Cristina of Stewartstown, PA and Juanita L. Conroy of York, PA; five grandchildren Rebecca M. Conroy, Matthew R. Conroy, Katherine M. Conroy, Ryan J. Brooks and Sara M. Brooks; one brother George O. Hecht and wife Mary Lou of Virginia. Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 12:00 pm from Hartenstein Funeral & Cremation Care, Inc., 19 S. Main St. Stewartstown, PA 17363 with Rev. Melissa A. McDade officiating. Interment will be held privately. A visitation will be held from 11:00 am until the time of his service at the funeral home. Military Honors will be conducted following the memorial service by the York County Veterans Honor Guard at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the ARC of Washington County, MD, 820 Florida Ave., Hagerstown, MD 21740.