William Albert Cochran

William A. (Bill) Cochran, 87 years of age, retired from Arlington Public Schools in June 1985, passed away at home with his family present on June 4, 2012. Bill was born and raised in Fairmont WV, March 20 1925. Within a week of completing his senior year, he enlisted in the US Navy where he served aboard the USS Colorado in WW II’s Pacific Theater 1943 to 1946 in numerous engagements, including the battles of Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Saipan, Guam-Tinian, Leyte, Mindoro, Luzon, and Okinawa. Bill was in Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Unconditional Surrender. Following his Navy discharge in 1946, he returned to Fairmont and attended Fairmont State College, earning a BS in Industrial Education in 1950. With the remainder of his GI Bill, Bill attended University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, WI receiving his MS in Industrial Education in 1951, where he met his wife of 60 years, the former Marianna Zdrazil. Bill began his career teaching high school Industrial Arts in Martinsburg WV. In 1954, he and his family moved to Arlington, VA and was a founding faculty member of Williamsburg Junior High School. His Industrial Arts classes consisted in teaching hands-on skills in woodworking, metals, plastics, ceramics, and forging. He wrote curriculum for Arlington Public Schools, and the State of Virginia for many years. In 1967 he was selected to attend the National Department of Education (NDEA) summer session. During his career, he also taught at George Mason Center for the Handicapped and, both Industrial Arts and Math at Stratford and Swanson Junior High Schools. Bill was Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for St. Ann’s Parish troops. Tent camping was his interest when traveling with his family. Later he traveled in Eastern European countries and all 50 states. He held membership in Arlington Kiwanis (25 years) and USS Colorado Association (62 years).

Survivors include his wife, Marianna Cochran and children Jeffrey T. Cochran and special friend Barbara Orndorff, Big Stone Gap, VA; Ellen wife of Charlie Leuthner, Victoria, MN; Daniel H. Cochran Falls Church, VA; and Ann wife of Turk McCall, Rockville, MD and Clearville, PA; four grandchildren, Charlie Cochran, John Cochran, Rachel wife of Jeremy Varnell and Benjamin Kothrade. Friends may visit the MURPHY FUNERAL HOME OF ARLINGTON, 4510 Wilson Blvd. from 6-8 pm Thursday, June 7, 2012. Funeral service will be held at 11 am Friday, June 8 at St. Ann Catholic Church, 5312 N. 10th St. Arlington, VA 22205. Interment to follow at Columbia Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made “In Celebration of Bill Cochran’s Life” to either Arlington Kiwanis Foundation, PO Box 10031, Arlington, VA 22210 or Capital Caring Hospice Services, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042.