Billie Lee Trammell
"Always a Soldier"
7 Oct 1949 - 13 Jan 2012

First Sgt Billie Lee Trammell, USA Retired, was a career Soldier who loved his country, his family, and all those he was allowed to teach to become Soldiers. He died quietly of a heart attack on Friday, January 13, at his home. McCauley Funeral Home will have visitation from 1 to 2 pm on Friday, January 20th, then a memorial service at 2pm with full military Honors.
Bill was born on October 7, 1949, in San Antonio, Texas, to Orid and June Trammell. He attended high school in San Antonio then when his family moved to Ft Worth he followed them. It was at Underwood BBQ that he would meet the love of his life, as he was able to get a job washing dishes and when waitress Mary Frances Townsend arrived for work his first day on the job all he could do was let out a wof- whistle.
He and Mary were married on June 22, 1966 and a life of adventures began. Bill was a very loving caring man who dearly loved his wife and family, but he also loved his country and was called to be a soldier. So on April 1, 1971 he began his military career with the United States Army in the Infantry.
His basic was done at Ft Polk, La. From there he went to Ft. Benning, Ga [where his family would find themselves living many times in his career]. At Benning the Army saw a bright future for the young Trammell as he arrived a PFC and left a SGT, as they put him in Non-Commission School. From Ft. Benning they were sent to Ft. Hood, Texas, another base they would live at many times. While at Ft Hood he made a tour of Vietnam. After which he completed his first enlistment and got out of the Army.
For two years he worked the civilian life. They spent eight months building their new home. Lived in it for four months when he called Mary and said, "I have re-enlisted". Bill was a soldier. So in Cleburne, Texas, the adventures of military life began again and would be the life they lived and enjoyed.
Ft. Carson, CO was where they got to spend about four years while he had to do many missions outside the USA training soldiers. Afterward it was back to Ft Benning, Ga for Drill Sgt school training. And then the family arrived back in Belton [Ft Hood duty station] to live in the home they owned.
Many moves made between Ft Hood Texas and Ft Benning Ga for this family of five. Two children would graduate in Texas, one in Georgia. In between all these moves they made a three year stay at Ft Wainwright, Alaska, where Bill taught new soldiers how to survive the wilderness of Alaska.
In 1981 Bill was headed back to Ft Hood and he drove the family car, a 1969 VW Beatle back as the family would be packing and arrive later. A few weeks later he was hit by a lady running a red light and injured with 3 breaks in his leg. Darnell where he was taken did not catch the breaks, but his brother picked him up took him to Ft Worth for the weekend and he was rushed to Carswell AFB, the next day. Here he was put in a cast for 4 months.
Family arrived, back to Ft Hood and still on crutches he made it clear to his new soldiers that he could get up to the barracks and if they had trouble getting out of bed - he could help, by using his crutches to tip the bed over. Of course at Hood while out on maneuvers at CowHouse Creek the tank flipped causing him to swallow diesel.
He coached the softball team on post and they blamed his wife for losses, so the young soldiers would encourage her not to come to their games.
He went to Radford University in Virginia to teach ROTC and it was here on August 1, 1992 he officially retired out of the Army. He and Mary then worked for several years as house parents for troubled children. They worked with Avalon Center in Eddy, Belton Cedar Crest Hospital and Boysville in San Antonio.
In 1995 Bill was ready to go back to soldier life and went to work for Vinnell Corp, a government Contractor that trained soldiers in Saudi Arabia. In 1998 he worked for a few months for EWA Services at Ft Hood testing range equipment. Then went to work for Butler Int. training soldiers for the new equipment on the Bradley's. He had been a part of the first Bradley's at Ft Hood and now a part of when they were going high tech.
After 5 years they took a year and half off to live in parks as volunteer gate keepers, do activities with kids, etc. They were at Lake Sam Rayburn, Lake Whitney, RV park in Beaumont and Ft Boggy State Park. They then lived on a ranch a few miles out of Giddings were Bill would slaughter his first hog.
Then back to Ft Hood working for Butler. He worked for Anteon at Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri as a Sr instructor, back to Ft Hood, at Ft Bliss Texas he injured his knee. Always training soldiers, from Texas to Georgia to Germany, Korea, Hawaii, Ft Riley, Australia, Iraq, Saudi, Missouri, Alaska - he would give his life for a soldier. He was a Soldier.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings: Bobby Trammell, Richard Trammell, Jr Trammell, Glenn Trammell, Terry Trammell, Jeanette Simon and Leanette Trammell.
Bill is survived by his wife of 45 years Mary Trammell and their children: Tina Faye Tresselt and Mark of Blanco, Texas; Billy Ray Trammell of Belton, Texas; and Anthony Christopher [Tony] Trammell and Christina of Troy, Texas. Four grandchildren: Noah Tresselt, Shaylin Tresselt, Austin Trammell and Tyler Trammell. Siblings: Kathy Kurkendahl, Debbie Kurkendahl, Dorothy Trammell and Jerry Trammell and Sister-in-laws: Ceilia Trammell and Janace Trammell and Dixie Belle his 'little girl' and Buddy his protector and a host of nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made in Billie Lee Trammell's name by going online to woundedwarriorproject.com