Harold Lloyd Cochran, Sr.

Harold Lloyd Cochran, Sr., 94 years old, serenely departed his earthly home and went home to glory at his residence in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, early Friday morning on December 8, 2017. He was born in Eudora, Arkansas on October 17, 1923. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Margaret L. Cochran, his brother Pembleton Thomas Cochran, and his parents Elmyra Hill Cochran and Pembleton G. Cochran. He attended and graduated from Wilberforce University, in 1949, with a Bachelor Degree in Biology. He attended graduate school at The Ohio State University in 1950. Harold received an honorable discharge from the United States Army in 1946. While serving, he received the Bronze Service Star, World War II Victory Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon and AP Theater Ribbon. In 1943, he was dispatched to Fort Huachuca, Arizona where he was activated in the quarter master trucking company. In the winter of 1943, he was sent to Fort Washington, Seattle to go oversees to Honolulu, Hawaii to service army equipment. He also traveled to Solomon Island and Philippines Island, in 1945, during his service. He was serving on Okinawa Island in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan a short time prior to the United States dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. In 1950, Harold began working for the Defense Supply Center in Dayton, Ohio, and transferred to Columbus, Ohio shortly thereafter. He retired with more than 25 years of service as a supply center manager, and worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield in insurance for 10 years before retiring altogether. Harold was an avid bridge player and a member of two national bridge organizations: American Bridge Association (ABA) and American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). He also was a member of local bridge clubs in Columbus, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wilmington, Delaware, and Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He mastered the bridge game and won many awards from tournaments held around the country. Harold often talked about growing up on an active and sprawling farm in Eudora, Arkansas. He was proud to be from the country where his family was self sufficient in harvesting various greens, string beans, lima beans, corn, walnuts, pecans, various berries and cotton. They raised cattle, poultry and swine. They produced clabber milk, butter and soap. They provided land for share croppers and a commissary for the local folk. Harold shared that there was nothing better than the southern meals prepared on the farm by his family. Harold and his family had fond memories of summer vacations spent on the farm. Harold loved the Lord and had been active in church throughout his life. He was baptized in a Louisiana bayou when he was a young boy. His family noted that he received the spirit after being submerged in the water where he praised the Lord for several minutes afterwards. He attended elementary school in the church (St. Paul Baptist Church) where he attended Sunday School under the direction of his mother who was a graduate of Arkansas Baptist College and President of the School District for 44 years. She and her father, Thomas H. Hill, sat on the Board of Trustees for Arkansas Baptist College and Eudora Bank. Harold’s upbringing was centered around Christ, humanity, integrity and self-duty. As an adult, Harold was very active in church and was a dedicated and devout Sunday School Teacher at Shiloh Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio for at least 20 years. He and his wife were pillars of the church. He often led very spirited discussions on the lesson and interjected many thought provoking topics. Upon moving to Pennsylvania, Harold joined St. Paul’s Baptist Church and became active in the church. He loved his church, pastor and church family. Before Harold lost his sight, he actively participated in Sunday School and Bible Study. Harold was a praying man which was evident in the many miracles he experienced in overcoming many ailments in his latter years and invoking changes in his life. Harold often prayed with and for friends, family, clergy, caregivers, doctors and anyone visiting him. He believed in prayer because of his strong faith in the Lord. He is survived by his sons, Harold Lloyd Cochran, Jr. (Linda) of Avon Lake, Ohio, and Robert Lloyd Cochran (Sharon) of Berrien Springs, Michigan; daughter Jill Cochran Parham (Christopher) of Downingtown, Pennyslvania; granddaughters, Courtney Cochran, Taylor Cochran, Amelia Parham, Kayla Parham and Letitia Butler (Nathan); grandson LaMar Cochran (Jessica); great granddaughter London Cochran; great grandsons, Nathan Butler, Jr. and Chase Cochran; sisters-in-law Ruth Cochran of Detroit, Michigan, and Mary Jane Louden of Ocoee, Florida; nieces, Edith Adams (George), Belinda Cochran, Estella Stephens (Robert), and Charmaine Byrd (John); cousin Sharon Hill; and host of other relatives.