Col. Edwin Henry Cochran

Edwin Henry Cochran, Sr., 95, of Ocean Springs, died Sunday, August 25, 2013, in Ocean Springs. Mr. Cochran was born in Florence, Alabama and grew up near Gadsden, Alabama. He was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. He attended a local junior college in Alabama for 2 years and many years later completed his Bachelor’s Degree through Operation Bootstrap at the University of Southern MS. He entered the Army Air Corps in 1941, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was stationed at Keesler Field studying aircraft maintenance where he met the love of his life, May, soon to be his wife. All of his life his dream was to become a pilot in the Armed Forces. He was almost finished with aircraft maintenance training when he was called to be a pilot. After a 24 year career as an Air Force pilot, including 100 missions as part of “Operation Strangle” in World War II, he retired as a Lt. Colonel and relocated from Pennsylvania to Ocean Springs. Aside from family gatherings that included a weekly Friday Night get-together, he and May dearly loved to travel. They enjoyed many trips to Europe, several with their children. They also enjoyed boating to the islands on Ed’s boat, The Duchess. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Mary “May” Fountain Grantham Cochran, his parents, Edwin and Vera Cochran, and his sisters, Lucy and Jo Cochran. Survivors include his children Betty Grantham Bonifer (Joe), Hunter Grantham (Sandra), Ed Cochran, Jr. (Dell), Bob Cochran (Nancy), Susan Cochran Toche (Wesley), and Tricia Cochran King (Timmy), 23 grandchildren, Joe, Jim, Jeff, Diane, Barbara, Jeannie, Susan, Tina, Gaye, Shari, Karen, Susie, Chelle, Craig, Clay, Tammy, Ethan, Jeremy, Sarah, Katie, Aimee, Bryan and Michelle, 46 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren, his brother, Bill Cochran and numerous brothers and sisters in-law and nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care, Nell, Jacquelyn and Pam and Robin, RN, also the wonderful doctors, nurses, therapists, chaplain, and staff of Ocean Springs Hospital who were so caring and thoughtful. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Visitation will be on Friday, August 30, 2013, from 10:00 a.m., with an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial, all at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs. Burial will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.