Winford L “Win” Cockrell (89) passed away on July 8, 2024, in Killeen, Texas. He, along with his twin brother, was born November 30, 1934, in rural Bell County between the communities of Brookhaven and Sparta to Willie L “Bill” and Sallie I. (Adams) Cockrell. His birthplace is now under Lake Belton on the Ft. Hood Army Base.
His family moved to Killeen in early 1935 where he was raised and educated. With the exception of 2 years in the Navy, Win resided his entire life in Bell County and was a pillar of the community he loved so much.
He started his education at the Avenue D School Building for grades 1-5 then to an unnamed school located at 10th St and Rancier Avenue for grades 6-8. In 1949, a new wing was added onto that building and it became Killeen High School, where he graduated in 1953.
While in high school Win lettered in four sports and in his senior year was selected All District in basketball and All District and All Central Texas in football as a result of playing both offense and defense for the 1952 Kangaroos who were undefeated until losing to Huntsville in the State Quarter Finals Game. Win was active in many sports during his lifetime, including tennis, softball, golf, bowling and volleyball, which he was introduced to in the Navy, and he also enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Win joined the Navy Reserve while still in high school for an 8-year enlistment with two years of active duty. After graduation from basic training at Great Lakes Illinois, he attended airman prep school at Norman Oklahoma and from there went to the Naval Air Technician Training Center in Millington, Tennessee.
After returning from his service, he worked as a postman for the Killeen Post Office until 1959 when he became employed by the Killeen Bowlerama. Win and his wife Freda would eventually become the owners of the bowling center, where Win spent the next 42 years of his life. He loved the sport of bowling and was instrumental in sharing it with a younger generation when he started bowling classes for high school students in the 1970’s. Win was also active in the bowling industry serving two terms as President of the Texas Bowling Centers Association and on many of its committees. Win also served 6 years on the Board of Directors of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America. In 1997 he was inducted to the Killeen-Ft. Hood Bowling Association Hall of Fame and in 2000 the Texas State Bowling Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in death by Freda, his loving wife of 48 years, his parents, one sister Mary Frances Cox (Ardean), three brothers; Jack (Kay) Cockrell, Grady “G.A.” (Cyndy) Cockrell and his twin brother Wilford “Will” (Shirley) Cockrell, one daughter Yolanda Wiley Iacoletti, and one granddaughter Mandy Nicole Weaver.
He is survived by one son, Raymond (Cherie) Cockrell of Killeen, and daughters Linda Dreher of Temple, Tawana (Claude) Ramey of Killeen and Susan (Philip) Weaver of Bartlett; 15 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 4 great-greats; many nieces & nephews; and lastly Feisty (a dog he didn’t need) and Missy (a cat he didn’t want), but he wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Services are in the care of the Crawford Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. The family will receive visitors on Friday, July 12, 2024, between 6-8:00 (pm). Services will be held at 1:30 (pm) on Saturday, July 13, 2024 followed by family-only interment at the Killeen City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Wins’ grandsons: Lane Cockrell, Josh Cockrell, Dylan Ramey, Cody Weaver, Chris Cockrell and Kory Stanton. To complete his trip home, his Honorary Heavenly Pallbearers are: Eddie Vale, Bob Stewart, Frank Fontana, Bill Gibbs, Ron Wacker, Joe Everett and John Garcia.
