Born as a twin in Gentry, Arkansas on April 12, 1927, he was the last surviving sibling of seven children (Raymond, Gladys, Edna, Inez, Marion and Kenneth) of Ed and Rosa (Lowery) Cochran. Of the seven Cochran children, four shared the same birthday of April 12th (Edna, Marion and Marvin, and Kenneth).
Raised on a small truck farm in Arkansas during the Great Depression, Marvin learned to survive by his wits and hard work. He remembered hearing FDR on the radio announcing war with Japan following the Pearl Harbor attack. On his 18th birthday, April 12, 1945, Marvin and his twin brother Marion visited a US Navy enlistment station. FDR died on this day and they later learned they were both rejected by the Navy because of “flat feet.” Both went to a US Army recruitment station and were accepted in the Infantry with their “flat feet.” Marvin was trained in Texas to prepare for the anticipated assault on the island of Japan when he was redirected and shipped to Berlin after the fall of Germany to occupy the defeated nation. In the United States Army, he served in the 78th Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).
Marvin returned to the States and was honorably discharged but faced limited job prospects. After laboring in brutally cold conditions in Colorado and living in Longmont, CO, he again visited a US Navy recruitment station and was finally accepted into the US Navy. The Navy assigned him to Balboa Hospital in San Diego where he served as a Hospital Corpsman. After Navy service he wisely chose to remain in Southern California and settled in Riverside. He met and married a beautiful woman of Sicilian heritage, Anna Ramona Pitari, in 1955. Marvin and his bride had two children, Rosanne and Allan. Marvin worked himself into a training program and began work as a Jet Engine Mechanic at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, CA. He eventually worked at the Naval Air Rework Facility on North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, CA. Marvin worked at North Island from 1966 until his happy retirement in 1982. Nearly forty years of living his second chapter of life after work did not see Marvin “retired." Far from retirement, Marvin actively managed real estate investments in San Diego and was always available to assist his children with any home improvement projects. Marvin was happiest helping his children and overcoming challenges on different projects, as well as being the best Dad ever.
After ending work at North Island, Marvin lived in the Clairemont area of San Diego. He liked the location as it was convenient for him. A knowledgeable music enthusiast particularly of real Country and Western and Big Band Swing music, he taught his son to enjoy music, too. He enjoyed traveling to Branson, MO and attending the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. Throughout his life, Marvin traveled to other US States and various countries to explore the world on vacations and visit relatives.
Marvin began his journey into eternal life on Tuesday, July 27. He was quiet and at peace when he began this journey surrounded by his beloved daughter and son.
Marvin was a decent, salt of the earth man who demonstrated by action how to be responsible, hard working and caring. He will be very missed by his family and all that knew him.
He is survived by his daughter Rosanne Cochran, son Allan Edward Cochran, daughter-in-law Lisa Stempka, sister-in-law Rose M. Cochran, niece Sue Lakin, and other nieces and a nephew of the Cochran siblings.
In summary, What a Guy!
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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