John Robert Brooke Jr., 78, of Gloucester, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2011, at his home after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Richmond and grew up in Middlesex County and was the son of the late John R. and Sallie May Thurston Brooke Sr. John served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was retired from the Chesapeake Corporation as Maintenance Foreman after 35 years of service. He was a member of Petsworth Baptist Church in Gloucester.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Violet M. Brooke; his daughters, Susan Ely of Mechanicsville, Va., Bonny Graves of Charles City, Va.,  and Melinda Vanderoef of Monument, Colo.; a brother, Webster Brooke of Saluda, Va., and his grandchildren, Bobby Lynn, John Graves Jr., Emily Ely, William Vanderoef, and John Robert Vanderoef.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 15, 2011, at 11 a.m. in Petsworth Baptist Church by the Rev. David Edgell with burial in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to either Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 1417, Gloucester, Va.  23061 or to Petsworth Baptist Church, 2471 Hickory Fork Road, Gloucester, Va. 23061.

Andrews Funeral Home, Gloucester, is in charge of arrangements.