The Rev'd Richard Cockrell

July 12, 1925—December 30, 2023

All are invited to attend the Requiem Eucharist for The Rev’d Richard Cockrell at 2:00pm on Saturday, September 21 at Saint Philip’s.

O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered:
Accept our prayers on behalf of your servant Dick,
and grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy,
in the fellowship of your saints;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen. —BCP

Dick passed from his earthly life on December 30, 2023, aged 98 ½, and was interred in the Columbarium after a small family service in February.

Dick was born July 12, 1925 in Madison, Wisconsin where his father was the head of the YMCA. After earning a BM in trombone performance at UW, he trained as a Navy officer in New Orleans, South Carolina, and San Diego and then shipped out to the South Pacific (where he did not see combat).

Upon returning home, he studied choral conducting at Michigan State University, and taught high school choir before answering the call to the priesthood. In 1953, he married Joyce Figg and they soon left Michigan for California, where he studied at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

Dick was ordained in 1957 and served as a parish priest for the next three decades: first as curate at Christ Church, Grosse Pointe and subsequently St. Andrews, Ann Arbor. In 1966, he was called to be Rector of Church of the Good Shepherd, Hartford, Connecticut, where he worked for social justice in the inner city during challenging times. Subsequent ministries were at Trinity on-the-Green, New Haven, Connecticut; and St. James, Woodstock, Vermont. At the end of his ministry, Dick served as an interim priest and finally at Grace Church in Anderson, South Carolina.

Dick was the father of Saint Philip’s parishioners Sara Cockrell and Thomas Cockrell and his wife, Yvonne. Other children are Susanne Cockrell and Melanie Figg. Dick was a loving and generous grandfather to Alexandra, James, Oliver, Kellen, Aidan, Aimée, and Brandon.

Dick loved people and had a quick sense of humor. He was passionate about music and musicians. Dick and Sara moved to Tucson in 2013 and loved Saint Philip’s, its music ministry, and its people.

Donations in his honor may be made to benefit the Youth Choir UK Residency Fund.