Bill T. Avrett

Bill T. Avrett, 84 of Rockdale, passed away the morning of Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, in Lorena. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 at St. John’s United Methodist Church with Rev. Adam Straznicky officiating and burial following at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation was from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home.

Bill was born May 15, 1932, in the Pleasant Hill Community to Ray and Elizabeth (Ralston) Avrett. He attended Thorndale High School where he graduated valedictorian. Bill then received his BBA from the University of Texas and served in the United States Air Force for 4 and a half years during the Korean War, before being honorably discharged. 

He married Benalyn Cloudt in September of 1956 in Elgin, Texas. Bill worked for Chance Vought Aircraft in Grand Prairie as an Employment Interviewer. He then worked for Texas Instruments in Dallas in a variety of personnel services. Bill then went to work for Tracor, Inc. in Austin as the Personnel Director to the Director of Administrative Services where he dealt with safety, security, public relations, transportation, international consulting as well as taught management courses part time at the University of Texas. 

He owned and operated several small corporations such as a car dealership, farm implement dealership, mobile home sales lot and a leasing company rental agency just to name a few. Bill served as Division Manager for a high tech industrial cleaning company where he was involved in coordination of crews and equipment to perform projects locally and nationwide. Bill retired from Veolia. 

He was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Rockdale. Bill was very involved in his community and proudly served in many different organizations such as, President of the Rockdale Rotary Club, President of the Rockdale Country Club, President of the Babe Ruth League, Rockdale City Council, Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, St. John’s United Methodist Church, Rockdale High School Vocational Committee, Rockdale Sandow & Southern Railroad, Rockdale Little League and Girls Softball, Rockdale Relays, VFW Post 6535, FFA, and President of the Rockdale Athletic Association. Bill served on the City Council for three years before becoming the City of Rockdale Mayor 18 years.

He is preceded in death by his wife 56 years, Benalyn Avrett; brother, James Avrett; and sister, Nell Elizabeth Avrett.

Bill is survived by his son, Truett Avrett and wife Karen of Conroe, Texas; daughter, Jennifer Kramer and husband Brett of Lorena, Texas; grandchildren, Teaghan Avrett of Magnolia, Texas Tiernan Avrett of Conroe, Texas, McKenna Kramer of Lorena, Texas and Chandler Kramer of Lorena, Texas; and sister, Mary Ruth Borges of Austin, Texas.

Bill was known for donating books in someone’s memory to the Rockdale Library or the Rockdale Schools. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you do the same. Donate a book in Bill’s memory to the Rockdale Elementary School, Intermediate School or to the Rockdale Library.

Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home of Rockdale is in charge of arrangements.