Charles Alfred Westbrook: A Forsyth County Sailor's Life Cut Short

A photograph from around 1943 shows Charles Alfred Westbrook with his young son Robert C. "Bobby" Westbrook. Within a few years, Charles would leave for wartime service, return to his family and then lose his life in a workplace accident at age 29.

From Drew to the Navy

Charles lived from 1919 to 1948. A native of the Drew community in west Forsyth County, he grew up near Bethlehem Baptist Church off Post Road. He was the great-grandson of Wiley Fletcher Westbrook, an early Forsyth County settler.

Before entering military service, Charles worked as an engine lathe operator for the Chicopee Manufacturing Company in Hall County. He entered the U.S. Naval Reserve in September 1944 and trained in engineering and diesel mechanics during World War II.

Charles rose to Motor Machinist's Mate, Third Class and served overseas. While he was away, A. H. Westbrook spent a week with Mrs. Charles Westbrook and the children at Chicopee in June 1945.

Charles received an honorable discharge in February 1946. He returned to Chicopee and resumed work as a machinist. That September, Charles and his family visited relatives in Forsyth County.

The Chicopee Mill Accident

On March 25, 1948, Charles was involved in a fatal workplace accident at the main Chicopee mill. While working on the roof monitor, he was pinned by a closing skylight window and died from his injuries within minutes.

Charles left his wife, Mildred Holbrook Westbrook, and their three young children: Bobby, Stephen and Shirley. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church and was buried in the church cemetery near the community where he had grown up.

His Sons' Military Service

Bobby and Stephen both later followed their father into U.S. military service. Bobby served in the U.S. Navy.

Stephen Walter Westbrook was drafted into the Army and served during the Vietnam era. He advanced from enlisted service into the officer corps, completed 30 years in the Army and retired as a colonel. He then worked another 15 years for the Department of Defense.

Charles's Naval service and his sons' later careers are part of Forsyth County's wider military history. Heritage Forsyth's The Fallen Heroes of Forsyth County documents county residents who died in service.

Sources

• FamilySearch profile for Charles Alfred Westbrook, including the family photograph.
• Forsyth County News, June 28, 1945, page 5
• Forsyth County News, September 19, 1946, page 6
• Robert C. "Bobby" Westbrook obituary.
• Stephen Walter Westbrook obituary, Money & King Funeral Home