William Owen Cochran

William Owen Cochran, born November 26, 1927 in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky to Rachel Stone and James Beard Cochran, passed away at home in Stamford on March 25, 2013. Born and raised in a boxcar where his father was a civil engineer for the L & M Railroad, Bill continued on to graduate from Boise High School in Indiana and then served in the Navy at the end of WWII. Following the war, he attended Purdue University, where he met and married Carita Agnes Sadler. After Purdue he served in the Army during the Korean War. He and Carita had four children; Cathy, Linda, Richard and William, and six grandchildren: Heather, Timothy, Carita, Kalmia, Liam and Owen. He went to work for Union Carbide where he rose to the position of Director of Sales and Business Development at the Linde Corporation. While there he received the prestigious Chairman’s Award. He was extremely proud of this accomplishment. His retirement from Union Carbide coincided with the loss of his beloved wife Carita at his favorite spot on earth, Pebble Beach.

Subsequently Bill married Clare Bingham bringing Sloane, Lisa, Phyllis, Ned and their respective children: Stacy, Kate, Michelle, Drew, and Tula and three great-grand children: Madeline, Kelsey, and Parker into the family.

Bill was an active and highly respected member of the Stamford Church of Christ where he was an Elder for the last twenty years and was proud that he baptized all of his children and grandchildren there. He was a man of wisdom whom everyone came to for advice. He continued to stay in close contact with his college and work friends right up until the last weeks of his life. He could make anyone laugh, no matter the occasion. Bill had his family laughing right up until the end.

Children flocked to him, never scared off by his deep, sonorous voice. A man of high morals and integrity Bill worked hard, played hard, worshipped harder and loved large. He was a part of the Greatest Generation and was truly one of a kind and will sorely be missed.

Friends and family may attend the visitation with the family on Friday, March 29, 2013 from 7-9pm at the Stamford of Christ Church. A memorial service to celebrate “Billy Joe’s” life will be held Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 10:30 am at the Stamford Church of Christ, 1264 High Ridge Rd, Stamford, Ct

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stamford Church of Christ and marked clearly for "gardening". One of Bill's great concerns was for the planting and maintenance of the gardens that grace the church grounds and that this would continue for years to come. To leave an online condolence please visit www.leopgallagherstamford.com