Robert (Bob) David Bocell, Jr., 71, of Grand Prairie, Texas, passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. He was born September 23, 1948 in Big Spring, Texas. As a teenager, Bob received Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dallas.
Bob was a member of the Class of 1967 at Uintah (Utah) High School and Lubbock (Texas) High School. He studied electrical engineering at Texas Tech and was a newscaster and DJ for Lubbock radio stations. After his junior year at Tech, Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Sergeant. During the Vietnam era, he served on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and at MCAS Iwakuni (Japan) as a Radio and TV Information Specialist. Due to the escalation of the Vietnam conflict, Bob also was a helicopter door gunner, providing cover to the South Vietnamese Army during insertions to fight the Viet Cong.
After his discharge, Bob started a rewarding career in journalism in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. For almost 20 years, Bob was a reporter and editor, working for The Dallas Morning News, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Dallas Times-Herald where he helped publish the final edition in 1991. Bob also worked for local community newspapers including The Grand Prairie Daily News and Arlington Citizen-Journal. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1998.
Bob married Carol Jean Chapin, formerly of Clinton, Missouri, on December 10, 1977 at Southern Methodist University Perkins Chapel in Dallas. During the last 25 years while Bob courageously lived with Huntington's Disease (hdsa.org), Carol was his loving and devoted wife, helpmate and caregiver.
Bob was predeceased by his parents, Robert D. Bocell, Sr. and Jossie Mae Perkins Bocell. Survivors in addition to Carol: Sisters Bettie (Keith) Rust of Arlington, Texas and Barbara (Mike) Garrett of Flint, Texas; niece Victoria Garrett of Tyler, Texas; sisters-in-law Dee Chapin of Lenexa, Kansas; Marsha Chapin of Independence, Missouri; and Lana Jo Chapin (Ron Schermacher) of Ignacio, Colorado; and his extended family of wonderful caregivers: Amanda Enriquez, Yvonne Fay, and Sandra Gibson.
Bob was honored with a Final Salute and flag-folding ceremony at THR Arlington Memorial Hospital. In lieu of services during the current health crisis, friends are asked to fly the United States flag in memory of Bob. Memorial contributions may be made to Mission Arlington missionarlington.org/
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18