Obituary of Van Cochran

Van G. Cochran Van G. Cochran joined his wife of 64 years in heaven when he passed away on Friday, May 23, 2014, four days before his 97th birthday in Tucson, Arizona. He was born May 27, 1917, in Willard, Missouri, and moved with his parents and twin brother to Safford, Arizona at age 17. He received his BS and MS degrees from the University of Arizona and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant during World War II. He was stationed for a time in the Philippines and was trained in the "top Secret" radar technology of the time. Following discharge from the service, he taught agriculture for 33 years. He was hired in 1952 as a charter teacher at Antelope Union High School where he taught until retirement. He was an avid outdoorsman and fisherman and was disappointed he never managed to land an elusive king salmon during his visits to Alaska. He will be remembered by his children and grandchildren for his off-key songs and tall tales of the miles of snow drifts he walked through each morning as a child to get to school. He is survived by his children, Toni Sioux Niesen, Kathy Anderson, John Cochran; his daughter-in-law, Sharon Cochran; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Cochran; his son, Van R. Cochran; his granddaughter, Amanda Niesen, and his twin brother, Thomas Knox Cochran. Services as follows: Viewing at Bring's Broadway Chapel, 6910 E. Broadway, Tucson on Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral Services Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 11:00 am, at the Baptist Church in Wellton, AZ. Burial to follow. Arrangements by Bring's Broadway Chapel, Tucson, AZ.