Springhill Township Resident Celebrates Milestone Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SPRINGHILL TOWNSHIP RESIDENT JEAN BROOKS, 100 YEARS OLD ON SUNDAY 7/28/2024!

On Saturday July 27, 2024, Jean Brooks celebrated her 100th birthday with a gathering of friends and relatives at her home in Springhill Township. Miss Jean, as she is known to

friends, was born Jean Butterworth near Greensburg, PA.

In 1924 when Jean was born, Calvin Coolidge was the president, the average middle class income was $1300 per year, and the average rent was $15 per month. You could buy a brand new house for just under $8000. A postage stamp cost 2 cents, a loaf of bread cost 10 cents, and a brand new car was $650. It was the Jazz Age, the Roaring Twenties, with flappers, bootleggers, and prohibition in full swing. Johnny Weissmuller, not yet known as Tarzan, won 3 gold medals and a bronze at the Paris Olympics. My, have things changed!

Jean’s father worked as a coal miner. Jean remembers growing up in a nice house, enjoying their big yard, and walking to school. Sunday school was the high point of her week; she was a member of the United Methodist church, which held services in the school house. When she became an adult she lived in Point Marion, PA, and worked as a dental technician for Dr. Gilbert Bertiaux, who had emigrated from Belgium. Dr. Bertiaux taught her the techniques of her job.

Her future husband, Charles Brooks, spend two years in the army during World War II, deployed in Europe, and they met on a blind date after he was discharged from the army and had returned home. They married two years later, when she was 25. The couple had 3 children, Randy, Rusty, and Roberta; and 7 grandchildren, Jason, Eric, Jenna, Chad, Derek, Roberta Lynn, and Michele. She is known as Grandma Geegee to her 8 great grandchildren, Mia, Carlin, Sophy, Lucas, Tatum, Delaney, Quinn, Vinny, and Reese.

Asked for her advice on living a long happy life, Jean thought for a minute and answered, “My daddy always said just put one foot in front of the other and keep going. You’ll get to where you’re going eventually; enjoy the trip. Of course, I also enjoy a good whiskey sour!”

Happy Birthday Miss Jean, and many more to come!