Obituary for Billy Don Cockrum
Billy Don Cockrum was born July 4, 1940 in Cooper Tx. After a series of illnesses in the past four years, he passed away in his sleep on August 4, 2019, and stepped over into his heavenly home. He was raised in the small town of Cooper. He later moved to the Dallas area in the late 1950’s where he worked most of his life. He made his final move to another small Texas town, Fruitvale. He loved his home in the country, away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.
He was preceded in death by his beloved parents; William Cullen and Orval Lee “Nelson” Cockrum, sister; Francis Jean Stratton and brother-in-law; Joe Wakefield.
Left with cherished memories include his wife of almost 24 years; Raylene “Schwab” Cockrum of Fruitvale, a brother; Dan Cockrum of Canton, sisters; Ann Wakefield of Tyler, Mary Bandy and husband James “Terry” of North Richland Hills, sister-in-law; Peggy Garrett of Allen, daughter; Vickie Lynn Cockrum of Cooper, two step-children; Jennifer Boles of Dallas, and Jason Boles of Fruitvale, grandchildren; Stacie Latinis of Pennsylvania, Gary Latinis and wife Shawna of Alexandria, Virginia, Taylor Watkins of Cooper, Paige Costilla and husband Alec of Austin, and Skylar Boles of Mesquite. His great-grandchildren are Raigan, Austin, Jeremiah, Madison and Jaden, nieces; Kim Stratton of Lawton Ok, Treva Walker and husband Larry of Tyler, Cindy Dike and husband Terry of Tyler, Tammy Cooper and husband Mark of Angleton, Matt Wakefield and wife Monica of Bullard, nephews; Jeff Stratton and wife Millie of Oklahoma City, Ok, Monte Stratton and wife Angie of Dallas, and Sean Bandy of North Richland Hills, along with a host of other family members and numerous friends.
Bill’s first career started when he left home at age 16, jumping up into his first big rig truck, telling the truck owner friend that he knew all about those trucks. That was the beginning of his love for trucks. He later worked at LTD in Grand Prairie, building planes for the government, ran his own heating and air conditioning company, was once even a pool boy, cleaning pools, then went on to SMU where he worked 16 years, maintaining the heating and air conditioning to the campus buildings and dormitories and leaving with and early retirement. He was quite adventurous in his early years and took off to Alaska, living in the wild for a few months and another Alaskan trip had him panning for gold in the icy waters. He returned to trucking in his later years, his first career choice and really retired in 2003 at the age of 63. He was thereafter a “piddler”, jack-of-all-trades-master of none. If he didn’t know how to fix something, he’d go pick the brain of someone who did know. He liked to fish and worked many hours on an antique car and truck (which neither were ever fully restored). He spent most of his time in his workshop and tended to his home and land.
Bill loved to read his Bible and shared the Word with anyone who would listen to him about Jesus. He was prowling around Fruitvale one spring day in 2008 and found Roundflat Pentecostal Church and came home to tell Raylene of his find. From that week on, they became members and proud to call it their home church with the body of Christ therein. He was a beloved son, father, brother, husband, Grandpa, Bebo, uncle, family member and friend. He never met a stranger. We are so blessed to have had him in our lives and he will be sorely missed by all. The greatest comfort is knowing he is well and walking hand and hand with his Lord and Savior today. There’s no greater victory, he finished the race! Hallelujah!
He was preceded in death by his beloved parents; William Cullen and Orval Lee “Nelson” Cockrum, sister; Francis Jean Stratton and brother-in-law; Joe Wakefield.
Left with cherished memories include his wife of almost 24 years; Raylene “Schwab” Cockrum of Fruitvale, a brother; Dan Cockrum of Canton, sisters; Ann Wakefield of Tyler, Mary Bandy and husband James “Terry” of North Richland Hills, sister-in-law; Peggy Garrett of Allen, daughter; Vickie Lynn Cockrum of Cooper, two step-children; Jennifer Boles of Dallas, and Jason Boles of Fruitvale, grandchildren; Stacie Latinis of Pennsylvania, Gary Latinis and wife Shawna of Alexandria, Virginia, Taylor Watkins of Cooper, Paige Costilla and husband Alec of Austin, and Skylar Boles of Mesquite. His great-grandchildren are Raigan, Austin, Jeremiah, Madison and Jaden, nieces; Kim Stratton of Lawton Ok, Treva Walker and husband Larry of Tyler, Cindy Dike and husband Terry of Tyler, Tammy Cooper and husband Mark of Angleton, Matt Wakefield and wife Monica of Bullard, nephews; Jeff Stratton and wife Millie of Oklahoma City, Ok, Monte Stratton and wife Angie of Dallas, and Sean Bandy of North Richland Hills, along with a host of other family members and numerous friends.
Bill’s first career started when he left home at age 16, jumping up into his first big rig truck, telling the truck owner friend that he knew all about those trucks. That was the beginning of his love for trucks. He later worked at LTD in Grand Prairie, building planes for the government, ran his own heating and air conditioning company, was once even a pool boy, cleaning pools, then went on to SMU where he worked 16 years, maintaining the heating and air conditioning to the campus buildings and dormitories and leaving with and early retirement. He was quite adventurous in his early years and took off to Alaska, living in the wild for a few months and another Alaskan trip had him panning for gold in the icy waters. He returned to trucking in his later years, his first career choice and really retired in 2003 at the age of 63. He was thereafter a “piddler”, jack-of-all-trades-master of none. If he didn’t know how to fix something, he’d go pick the brain of someone who did know. He liked to fish and worked many hours on an antique car and truck (which neither were ever fully restored). He spent most of his time in his workshop and tended to his home and land.
Bill loved to read his Bible and shared the Word with anyone who would listen to him about Jesus. He was prowling around Fruitvale one spring day in 2008 and found Roundflat Pentecostal Church and came home to tell Raylene of his find. From that week on, they became members and proud to call it their home church with the body of Christ therein. He was a beloved son, father, brother, husband, Grandpa, Bebo, uncle, family member and friend. He never met a stranger. We are so blessed to have had him in our lives and he will be sorely missed by all. The greatest comfort is knowing he is well and walking hand and hand with his Lord and Savior today. There’s no greater victory, he finished the race! Hallelujah!