WILLIE F. MIDDLEBROOK

July 1, 1944 - Jan. 17, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS - Willie Frank Middlebrook, 65, a beloved son, father and brother, departed this life on Sunday, January 17, 2010, in Indianapolis, IN. Born in Okolona, MS, on July 1, 1944, Willie was the firstborn son to the union of Frank Middlebrook Jr. and Mary Lena Osborne Middlebrook, who preceded him in death on October 28, 1977.

Willie was a graduate of Washington High School.

While in high school he was a 3-sport athlete in football, basketball and track. Willie excelled in football where he played both offense and defense, and was a member of three championship varsity football teams, the all-conference team two years in a row and the all-state team his senior year. Willie also excelled academically, graduating in the top 5% of his graduating class. Following his graduation Willie was accepted to Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, where he studied Education and received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

Willie also served in the military and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Willie went on professionally to experience success in the areas of education where he developed or served in programs dealing with alternative education and mentoring of youth, community activism, and as the host of the popular radio talk show program "The Bottom Line."

Willie leaves to cherish his memory his parents, Frank Middlebrook Jr. (Odesta) of South Bend, IN; his son, Dane Lamar (Victoria Allen) Middlebrook; his beloved grandchildren, Deija Renae (Boo) and Dane Jr. (D.J), all of Indianapolis, IN; his sisters, Mrs. Maryann Mukete, Cameroon, West Africa, Mrs. JoAnn Walker, Ms. Linda Hanan, Mrs. Joy Lewis, all of Fort Wayne, IN; his brothers, Mr. Jesse Middlebrook, Norfolk, VA, and Mr. Lloyd Middlebrook, South Bend, IN, and all of their respective families. He also leaves his aunts, uncles and a host of cousins, including his cousin buddies, Kenneth Osborne, Daryl Osborne, Fred M. Osborne and William Neely, all of South Bend, IN. A host of friends including his best friends, Mrs. Karon Izzard of Wichita, KS, Mr. Ed Dorhan of Dallas, TX, and his goddaughter, Ms. Sandte Stanley of Atlanta, GA. Services for Mr. Willie Frank Middlebrook will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2010, at the Pentecostal Cathedral COGIC, 1025 W. Western Ave., South Bend, IN.

Visitation at noon and funeral services at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery, South Bend, IN. Afford's Mortuary has been entrusted with handling the arrangements. Messages of bereavement may be e-mailed to Alfordsmortuary@comcast.net, c/o the Middlebrook family.

Published by South Bend Tribune from Jan. 20 to Jan. 21, 2010.

04/30/2023 EJS

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