Col. (Ret.) Bill Gene Lockwood

Colonel Bill Gene Lockwood (United States Army, Retired), age 92, passed away August 25, 2025, in Medical Center Enterprise following a short illness. Funeral arrangements are being made by Sorrells Funeral Home of Enterprise, Alabama, for burial with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, at a future date.

Colonel Lockwood was born August 1, 1933, in Osage County, Oklahoma. After graduating from public schools in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, he was drafted into the US Army as a 19 year old Private. He eventually served over 31 years of continuous active military service, retiring as a full Colonel. He received his Commission via the Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1954. During his service years he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Omaha, Nebraska, and a Master of Science Degree from the University of Illinois. He was also a graduate of the United States Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

Major assignments for Colonel Lockwood included Rifle Company Commander in Korea; Battalion Adjutant with the 11th Air Assault Division; Assistant Division Aviation Officer with the 145th Aviation Battalion in Vietnam; Helicopter Gunnery Instructor Pilot; Branch Chief at Fort Rucker, Alabama; S3 of the 101st Airborne Division’s Aviation Group in Vietnam; Operations Officer in the National Military Command Center for the Organizations of the Joint Chief’s of Staff in the Pentagon; and Military Representative to the US State Department in Washington, D.C. At the United States Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama, he served as Director of the Department of Graduate Flight Training; served as Executive Officer for the United States Army Aviation School; and as Commander, First Battalion, United States Army Aviation School Brigade. In Germany he was Chief, G-3 Air Section of NATO’s Central Army Group. He then commanded a United States Support Activity in the Netherlands for three years after which followed a three year assignment as Commander of the Heilbronn Military Community in Germany. His last military assignment was as Secretary for the United States Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Col. Lockwood’s Awards and Decorations include two awards of the Legion of Merit, three awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, two awards of the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, 13 awards of the Air Medal, three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/gold star, the Master Army Aviator Badge, Army Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Army Ranger Tab, and Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge. He was rated as a Master Aviator for both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

After retirement from the military, Col. Lockwood worked for himself and became a very successful investor in the real estate and equities markets, which he continued until his passing.

Col. Lockwood was preceded in death by his wife of over 47 years, the former Anna Marie Merkl of Vilseck, Germany, as well as his brother, Don, and sister, Geraldine, both of Oklahoma, but is survived by numerous beloved nephews, nieces, cousins and a lifetime of friends.