Robert Cockrell

COCKRELL, Robert Portage, formerly of Birmingham, AL Passed away Monday, January 1, 2007 in Portage, MI. He was born November 2, 1919 in Birmingham, AL, the son of Marion E. and Mary E. Morgan Cockrell and had lived in the Birmingham area, where he was a member of the Huffman Baptist Church, until moving to Portage 2 ½ years ago. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1950, was a mining engineer for 50 years and had served his country during WW II in the US Navy. Robert was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elouise Cockrell in 2001; his grandson, Nathaniel Dempsey; a brother, Ernest Cockrell; and a sister, Deane Frazer. He is survived by his daughters, Molly Thompson of Kalamazoo and Susan Stephan Koch of PA; his grandchildren, Jonathan Rebecca Thompson, Zach Thompson, Asheley Matthew Skinner; great grandchildren, Abbey and Sam Skinner; two brothers, John Cockrell of CA and William Cockrell of Birmingham, AL; nieces and nephews. Private committal services were held today Wednesday at the Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Nathan Dempsey Scholarship Fund, at Austin Peay State University, 601 College St., Clarksville, TN 37044. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St.