Hampton Ralph Brooker

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Hampton Ralph Brooker, known to us as Ralph, passed peacefully from this life on May 26th at the age of ninety.  Born in Columbia, South Carolina on Sept. 11, 1934, Ralph was the son of Marvin Adel Brooker and Eddie Sue Colson.  As a child, he lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Gainesville, Florida. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Marvin.  Survivors include his sister, Sue Rowand of Lake City, Fl.; his wife, Jewel Spears Brooker; his children, Emily Brooker Langston of Annapolis, MD and Mark Spears Brooker of Chicago; and his granddaughter, Rachael Brooker Langston of Annapolis.  

Ralph attended Gainesville High School and earned his doctorate in physics at the University of Florida.  A distinguished scientist and teacher, he was a professor at the University of South Florida and did significant research in Nottingham, England on MRI imaging.  A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi Sigma, and other scientific societies, he authored dozens of scientific papers and lectured widely in the United States and Europe.

Ralph was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. A faithful follower of Christ, he had a lovely voice and was for many years in the church choir. One of our last memories of Ralph is that as he lay dying, he sang hymns at heaven’s gate.

The Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home, located in the Tyrone area of St. Petersburg is in charge of arrangements. The address is 7820 38th Ave. North. On Friday, May 30th, there will be a visitation for family and friends at the funeral home from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.   There will be a lakeside service Saturday morning, May 31st, at 10am at Lake Seminole Square Senior Living (8333 Seminole Blvd) followed by a reception with refreshments.  

At 2:00pm, a brief graveside service will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery, located on 54th Ave. North, just east of the I-95 exit.