Corbet Cochran, Sr., 87, of Vero Beach passed away on Jan. 17, 2014.
Cochran is survived by his wife, Emily Ellen Walker-Hassel; three children: Corbet Cochran Jr., Richard Valentine Cochran (Mona Louise), and Priscilla Colleen Searles (Gordon); grandchildren Stoffer Valentinie Cochran, Monica Johnson, Marci Mason, Nicole Elizabeth Melton, Heather Roxanne Piatt, and Matthew Glenn Piatt; great-grandchildren Katie Elizabeth Melton, Abigail Renae Melton, Christopher Aaron McGee, Ariel Renee Jaylynn Piatt, Josiah Tucker Aaron Piatt, Ayden F, and Griffen Bennett Johnson; sister Annalee Chance; brothers Donald Ray Cochran, Larry Daniel Cochran, and James David Cochran.
Cochran was the third child born to Valentine Cochran and Gracie Allen on March 1, 1927 in Buland, Ky. After his mother died in 1933 in Magoffin County, Ky., Valentine married Gracie’s sister, Viola Allen, briefly moved to Michigan, then settling in Willard, Huron County, Ohio, adding 10 additional half brothers and sisters between Valentine and Viola. Cochran graduated from Willard High School in 1944, the first in his family to do so.
He moved forward with his education at Ohio State University, but dropped out at the onset of World War II and enlisted in the US Navy. He served from 1944 to 1946 in the Pacific Theater on the USS Vulcan, a submarine tender in the Philippines, the occupation of Japan and Shanghai China.
He then transferred to the Air Force. Tours of duty included Travis AFB, Fairfield, Calif., Grifitts AFB Rome, N.Y., Bordeaux Airbase Bourdeaux, France, Madrid, Spain, ACNW Squadron North Concord, Vt., Langley Field, Hampton, Va., Vietnam 1962 to 1963 (where he volunteered in his spare time in the war torn orphanages) and Turner AFB Albany, Ga. Temporary tours included Thule, Greenland, French Morocco, Libya, Ethiopia, Turkey, Crete, Greece, Saudi Arabia, and Azores Islands.
Cochran honorably retired in December of 1967 at Forbes AFB Topeka, Kans., and moved to Vero Beach, Fla. He resided there until his death.
Service Awards include the Air Force Commendation, American Defense Award, Asiatic Pacific Award, Philippine Liberation Award, Philippine Independence Award, World War II Victory Award, Japanese Occupation Award, China Service Award, Air Force Longevity Award, Vietnam Service Award, Outstanding Air Force Unit Award and Good Conduct Award.
Cochran worked briefly at Piper Aircraft Corporation in Vero Beach and retired from Southern Bell after 20 years of service as a switchman in the main office. He was an Official Kentucky Colonel bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky. He also was the secretary for the Vero Beach Coin Club and the USS Vulcan reunion committee.
He was a Life Member of VFW and served as an Honor-Guard in the VFW as a Cootie in which he participated in countless Veterans funerals. He also was a volunteer for Red Cross and volunteered for the Indian River County Veterans Service Office for total of five years shuttling Veterans to the VA Hospital in West Palm Beach.
He was a Member of the First United Methodist Church since 1960 and served in the service of the ministry of the Pairs and Spares Sunday school class and a regular attendee of the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast.
He was a regular at his favorite donut shop and had many friends there. He was also a throat cancer survivor.
He met Emily Ellen Walker-Hassell at a marriage between their best friends and married her Dec. 27, 1954, later relating that “She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Cochran was an Honorable Gentleman, an American Hero, and was deeply loved by all who knew him and will be sorely missed.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Council of Indian River County, 1800 27th Street, Vero Beach, Fla., 32960. A Life Celebration Service for Cochran will begin at 1 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the First United Methodist Church in Vero Beach. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are by Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory.