Patricia Ann Cochran, age 88, passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2022 following several years of declining health. She has been a resident of Pennybyrn since 2010 and a resident of High Point since 1974.
Patricia was born November 11, 1933 to John T. and Lillian (Benda) Murphy at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
She graduated from Maryville College and married John K. Cochran in 1956. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, and three siblings; John T. Murphy, Robert E. Murphy and Marian M. Brown.
She moved 12 times during her life married to a USMC fighter pilot. Being a military wife wasn’t easy, but somehow she managed, rarely showing a tear to her children as her husband left for military duty for a year at a time.
“As her children grew, she devoted many hours to volunteer work. In 2006, she was named High Point Senior Volunteer of the Year by Senior Resources of Guilford County. She shared her love of knitting by teaching many children to knit and doing charity knitting for hospitals. She also loved helping children learn to read and volunteered at the Jamestown Public and High Point Christian Academy libraries and as a tutor at Oakview Elementary. Over the course of her life, she also served as a VITA income tax receptionist, ARC volunteer, and Navy Relief Counselor.”
In her declining years, she had the wonderful assistance of Home Instead Caregivers and the Pennybyrn staff, for which her family is extremely grateful.
She is survived by her children, Kathleen Cochran Clayton (Norris), Marie Cochran, and Kenneth Cochran (Paige); grandchildren, Matthew Clayton (Denise), Patricia Clayton (Gillian), Olivia Cochran, Margo Creedon (Tim) and great-grandchildren, William, Julia, Audrey, Theo and Adeline Clayton.
The family will be having a small, private family service. In lieu of flowers, Patricia’s wish was that a contribution be made in her honor to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) or the Jamestown Public Library. Donations can be made out to these charities but mailed to Ken Cochran. The family will arrange the gifts to support a cause she was passionate about.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sechrestdavisphillipsavenue.com for the Cochran family.
