Howard Eugene Cochran

He was born in Lawrenceville, Illinois on January 10,1938 to Lyle E. and Ellen Wilson Cochran. He graduated from Lawrenceville Township High School and from the University of Illinois in the College of Business with a major in accounting. Howard served as an officer in the US Army for an eight-year obligation divided between active duty and the Army Reserves. After the Army, he became a Certified Public Account and worked with the public accounting firm of Price Waterhouse, Coopers. He was also a financial officer for several companies in the Washington, DC area. His last company, Washington Real Estate Investment Trust, where he was Vice President of Finance, was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Howard took early retirement in 1994.

From their marriage in 1983, Howard and his wife Kaye lived in northern Virginia, Winter Park, Florida, Lake Keowee, South Carolina, Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia and New Bern, North Carolina. They frequently traveled and were avid golfers in addition to enjoying many other outdoor sports such as boating, fishing, hiking, skiing and tennis. His goal was to golf “bogie” or better.

Howard was a very devoted husband and family man who took great pride in his children and grandchildren. As a younger man he was involved with coaching Little League baseball and he remained a baseball fan his entire life. While he had a very successful working career, he frequently said that his greatest success in life was having his three children all graduate from college and work in their chosen field of study.

Howard is survived by his wife, Jennifer Kaye Cochran of New Bern; two sons, Michael E. Cochran (Nancy) of Wake Forrest, NC, and David A. Cochran (Linda) of Morristown, NJ and one daughter, Ann Louise Myers (Jon) of Arlington, VA who preceded him in death in 2011; his brother Benny L. Cochran of Lawrenceville, IL, and sister, Mary Jean Davis of Mesa, AZ both whom preceded him in death; two grandsons, Emory Myers of Norfolk, VA and Joe Myers of Richmond, VA, two granddaughters, Hanna Cochran of Morristown, NJ and Sissel Cochran of Morristown, NJ; his first wife, Gretchen Wrigley of Raleigh, NC, and many nieces and nephews.

The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.

The family especially appreciates the care and attention of Dr. Sarah Carroll, Dr. Bill Lorio and the nurses and staff at Carolina East Medical Center.