Willard Doyle Brockinton

Willard Doyle Brockinton, 89, of Lancaster, TX passed away April 19, 2021 at his residence surrounded by his family. He was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, “Uncle Bubba”, “Bapaw”, friend, Army veteran, computer data storage expert, but most of all, a Godly man who loved the Lord with all his heart, soul, and mind. The celebration of his life will be held Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Byrum Funeral Home, Lancaster, TX. Visitation will occur one hour prior in the Byrum Chapel at 1:00 PM. Delivered at home in Lancaster, February 7, 1932 by Dr. Neath Parks, Brockinton was the oldest of three children of Howard Doyle Brockinton and Lola Maureen Ground Brockinton. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Horace Randolph “Butch” Brockinton; his niece, Betty Ground Brockington; and the love of his life, Mazie (Derrick) Brockinton, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage before her death in September 2014. He loved his hometown and was actively involved with the LHS Class of 1949 reunion group cherishing friendships through the year and staying connected through the happy and sad times classmates shared. His life’s story of growing up around Lancaster and the friends he made through his life truly were life-long treasures. His family was blessed hearing many stories about the Trinity Heights Movie Theater, Wee Saint Andrew’s Miniature Golf Course (where he and Mazie doubled dated the first time), farming, hitting his little sister in the nose with a rock, to hearing about his bout with measles and chickenpox in the same year. He served as an elder of the Pleasant Run Church of Christ for over 40 years. He was a frequent Bible School teacher, counselor, spiritual leader, and saw to it those in need were cared for and loved. He had a passion for delivering holiday hams to many widows or other families from the church, and the memory of his servant heart is often recalled by his grandchildren. During his high school days, he was one of the earliest to letter four years in football and proudly wear the black and orange #75 jersey all four years. Throughout his life, he was a hard worker whether it was at his father’s gas station, construction helping build West Main Elementary, unloading grocery trucks, usher at a movie theater or wherever he could make a difference. Following graduation from LHS, he was awarded a football scholarship to Weatherford College. When the program was discontinued, he was invited to try-out at Abilene Christian College, now Abilene Christian University. He met his “special girl,” Mazie Derrick Brockinton, at Dallas Avenue Church of Christ. They were married June 15, 1951 and shared over 63 years together. In December 1950, he began his service to our country enlisting in the United States Army for over five years tour of duty. During his time in the Army, he was initially stationed at Fort Bliss Army Base, El Paso, TX and bases in Virginia and Arkansas before transferring to Tripler Army Medical Center, Headquarters for the Pacific Regional Medical Command of the U.S Army, Honolulu, HI where he would prepare the daily reports on over 1,500 soldiers being treated there. Upon completing his five years of service, he returned to Lancaster and initially began his career with Dallas Power and Light Company where he worked as a meter reader before advancing to data processing. He worked in the data processing department of Atlantic Richfield in downtown Dallas before transferring to the then-new ARCO Oil and Gas Company in Plano. He earned his way into a supervisory position and at retirement was Supervisor, Data Media and Data Processing and retired in 1987 with 30 years of service. Briefly, he operated his own consulting company, SMS Storage Management, but his skills were much sought after. No sooner than he’d ended his time with ARCO, he was asked to join TU Services as a mass-data storage consultant to oversee a major computer conversion-implementation project. At the end of the first year, TU Services asked him to join the company as a Storage System Specialist, where he continued until 1993 when he retired again. In 1977, he began his relationship with GUIDE (Guidance for Users of Integrated Data-Processing Equipment) and was a sought-after trainer. He was instrumental in the development of the GUIDE storage requirements which and was a member of every futures-related storage project. During the 1992 GUIDE annual conference, he received the President’s Award, GUIDE’s highest honor. This award is given to those individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization and profession. Among other treasures were the hunting trips to Junction/Brady with dear friends for decades and taking the grandchildren and wife along for a fun adventure—and always a stop at the Section Hand in Brownwood for the big chicken fried steak! His ‘big hunt’ to Montana had him training months in advance for the ‘high country.’ Willard and Mazie’s “Big Adventure” dream trip to Alaska covered tens of thousands of miles and some 45 days on the road spending time with great aunt Wanell Ekimo in Anchorage, AK and seeing a great deal of Canada and the northern United States as well. His love for fishing from the Gulf Coast to lakes around Texas were among those he enjoyed with family. His last time on a lake was at Lake Crook, outside Paris, a few Thanksgivings ago where he re-baited at least 200-300 hooks on the trot lines and made memories for all on-board. His love for the Lord brought him much joy, and many lives were touched by his Kingdom work in large and small ways. He is survived by his daughters, Lesa Brockinton Bulls and husband, Derald of Paris, TX and Tammy Brockinton, of Lancaster; grandchildren, D.J. Bulls, Jr. and wife, Meghan of Gilmer, TX, Haley Bulls Smith and husband, Dustin of Paris, TX; three great grandchildren, Mackenzie Jo Bulls of Gilmer, and Laramy and Mazie Kate Smith of Paris; a beloved sister, Sandra Fritchie of Farmers Branch, TX; sister-in-law, Ann Arie and husband, Freddie; nephews, Paul Ground and wife, Cheryl, Chris Fritchie and wife, Lori, Jerry Brockinton and wife, Jessie, Joel Arie and wife Lisa; nieces, Soni Woods and husband, Keith, Frances Foret, Angie Conrad and husband, John, Marcia Howard and husband, Steve; and a host of great nieces, nephews, and cousins. His computer was his workstation whether it was planning a Bible lesson, a church bulletin article, checking the latest from friends on email, or reading a stock report. But in preparation of this information, his worn and well-marked Bible was opened to Paul’s first letter to Timothy Chapter 6, verse 12, “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you make the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” He lived his life in such a way that all who knew him or met him could see Jesus in everything he did or said. There is no doubt that when he arrived in Heaven, he heard Jesus’ words found in Matthew 25–words we all long to hear when we are called to our eternal resting place– “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Named to serve as pallbearers are Paul Ground, Chris Fritchie, Keith Woods, Jerry Brockinton, R.L. Brockington, and Joel Arie. Honorary pallbearers are Kyle Brockington, Robert Clark, Darwin Morton, Dale Gatlin, Simeon Glover, Pete Terrell, and Larry Buck. To donate in Willard’s memory, please mail a check to Camp Deer Run (note: “in memory of Willard Brockinton”) at: 1227 CR 4590 / Winnsboro, TX 75494. Or you can give securely online at CampDeerRun.com. Click the green donate button and note that it is in memory of Willard Brockinton.

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Willard Doyle Brockinton

February 7, 1932 - April 19, 2021