Some people make time to help others, but for Linda Cochran it was her reason for being. In her 76 years of life, Linda’s greatest joy was putting a smile on somebody else’s face. She was born in Ware Shoals, SC, in 1941 and spent her early years in Greenville, SC. A blind date with the dashing PC Cochran led to their marriage in 1959, and she graduated from Greenville High School the same year. The life of the young Army Aviator wife took to such garden spots as Mineral Wells TX, Daleville AL, and Hopkinsville KY. Linda learned how to do much with very little, becoming a resourceful homemaker and volunteer. As her husband rose in his aviation career, Linda Cochran rose in her volunteerism and community involvement. Linda served as a hospital volunteer, patient services liaison, and the manager of the Fort Dix Thrift Shop. During the entire time, she was the selfless mother to two young children, and this included 3 years as a solo parent while PC was serving combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. Linda became a professional in 1978, taking jobs with American Greeting, American Chicle, and Johnson and Johnson. Her reputation with retail store managers was of someone who went above and beyond the call of duty, and she pitched in on many store inventories and clean-up events. All these experiences laid the foundation for her crowning success: 32 years as a Caldwell Banker realtor. Many clients she sold 2 houses to, a handful she sold 3 to, and at least 1 client she sold 4 houses to. Linda lost many sales simply because she talked her clients out of doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. Linda frequently said, “I’m not trying to make the sale, I’m trying to make my clients happy.” Real estate was never just a business to Linda, it was a calling. She viewed every transaction as an opportunity to change someone’s life for the better. Her final home sale was closed in July 2017, just six months before her passing. She didn’t do it because she had to, but because she wanted to help others realize their dreams. The second half of 2017 saw her caring for her husband PC after a stroke and an illness, and assisting her mother Thelma who is battling dementia. Throughout 2017, Linda waged her own battle against stage 4 cancer, but it was far from her primary concern. Everything Linda Cochran did was focused on helping others, and she was doing it all the way up to the day of her hospitalization on January 25. The Lord took Linda home to her great reward on Valentine’s Day, which was quite fitting for someone so full of love and devotion. Linda Cochran is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, PC Cochran, her mother Thelma O’Dell, her son and daughter Craig Cochran and Kim Cochran Saks, and 4 grandchildren: Brynn Cochran, Cullen Cochran, Aaron Saks, and Ana Saks. The family will receive guests at HM Patterson (Old Canton Rd, Marietta) on Sunday, February 18, from 2 to 5 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that you consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.17.0