Dr. Paul F. Brookshire, Jr

Dr. Paul F. Brookshire, Jr., of Kingsport, TN, a World War II veteran and retired physician, died peacefully at home on Monday, November 28. Dr. Brookshire shared his gentle, kind and caring spirit as he raised his family and treated his patients in Kingsport.

Born July 10, 1918, in Winder, GA, he was the son of Paul and Lois Brookshire and had two sisters, Emma Peeler and Johnnie Parks, all who predeceased him. Dr. Brookshire served in the Army during World War II, based at the 225th Station Hospital in Naples, Italy, before being assigned to the First Armored Division in December 1944. He was a medical officer with Company C 47th Armored Medical Battalion in campaigns in Arno, North Apennines and Po Valley before Germany surrendered. He then served with occupation forces in Germany. Dr. Brookshire met and married Mary Sholtis, a nurse in the Women's Army Corps, in Naples in 1944.

He served in the Army again during the Korean War. A graduate of the University of Georgia, he received his medical degree from Emory University before World War II, then specialized in ear, nose and throat medicine after the war. He and his family came to Kingsport in 1955 and he retired in 1988. After Mary's death, he married Lois Stein in 1989, and their combined families brought their total number of children to 13.

He will be missed by his loving wife, Lois; five daughters, Kay Brookshire and husband Tom Beehan; Ann Brookshire; Gale Brookshire Montgomery and husband John; Judi Brookshire and husband Ron Koksal; Sharon Brookshire Hanrahan and husband John; and one son, Frank Brookshire and wife Lisa; three stepdaughters, Sandy Garner and husband Rob; Patrice Carlin and husband Tom; Jennifer Dowell and husband Dusty; four stepsons, Will Stein and wife Brenda; Stephen Stein and wife Jane; Randy Stein; and Bruce Stein; 20 grandchildren, Johnny Hanrahan and wife Maggie Bach; Brooke Hanrahan Foxworthy and husband Bryan; Paul Brookshire and wife Aimee; Josh Brookshire and wife Brynn; Betsy Brookshire; Patrick Beehan; Michael Beehan and wife Lissie; Heather Beehan Koldoff and husband Larry; Zack and Luke Koksal, Dominique Stein; Aaron Stein and wife Victoria; Marshall Stein; Kimberly Garner; Nicholas and Devin Carlin; Chelsea Stein Dawson and husband Ryan; Heather Dowell Tomlinson and husband Graydon; and Thomas and Trace Dowell; and 11 great-grandchildren, Simon and Sebastian Koldoff, Hannah Brookshire, Soly Beehan, Bridget Hanrahan, Kiera Brookshire, Ashton Foxworthy, Paul Brookshire V, Amber Stein, Marley Brooke Dawson, and Mallie Lois Tomlinson; and special family friend Diane Pearman Routon. In his loving way, he embraced them all.

Visitation will be at St. Dominic Catholic Church, Kingsport, from 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Dec. 2. Mass of Christian Burial will be at the church at noon with the Rev. Bill Gahagan and the Rev. Mike Nolan officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by American Legion Posts 3/265.

A special thanks to Bob Roth for his communion ministry.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Breakthrough, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of adults with autism, in honor of Dr. Brookshire's grandson, Luke Koksal. Breakthrough is at 1805 Maryville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920. Memorial contributions may also be made to St. Dominic Church, 2517 John B. Dennis Highway, Kingsport, 37660.