Bert Cochran

Bert F. "Frank" Cochran, 78 of Diana passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born August 3, 1936 in Diana to Bert W. and Audrey Riffle Cochran and was a lifelong resident of Webster County. He met Helen Carpenter in 1955 and they spent 59 years together, a few in Ohio but most of them in West Virginia. He was a coal miner and general laborer, working at Morton Salt and Ford Motor Company in Ohio, and returning to Diana in 1971. He attended Long Run Baptist Church and was Christian by faith. He was a well-known musician, playing almost any instrument, and had a family band known as "Little John and the Cochran Family". Frank enjoyed meeting new people and if you knew him, you knew he never met a stranger. He would start a conversation with anyone he met, no matter where he was. He enjoyed fishing and being outdoors but his greatest joy besides playing music was spending time with his family.

Frank is survived by his wife Helen; sons James F. (wife Barbara) Cochran of Geneva, OH, Bert Steven (wife Becky) Cochran of Sutton, and John Allen (wife Brenda) Cochran of Elkins; daughters Ruth Lynn (companion Dan Abston) Payne of Summersville and Linda Jo "Hippie" (husband Randy) Hamrick of Sutton; daughter-in-law Debbie Cochran of Erie, PA; brothers John Albert Cochran of Craigsville and Billy Joe Cochran of Burnsville; sister Mae Clutter of Cincinnati, OH; sisters-in-law Geneva Cochran of Medina, OH and Freddie Cochran of GA; grandchildren Jayson Cochran, Melissa Cochran, Tara Payne Troastle, April Cochran, Amber Hamrick, Chandice Cochran, Patricia Skidmore, Ericka Cochran, Justin Mitchell, and Courtney Cochran; nine great-grandchildren with another due in January; two step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; son Richard Lee Cochran; grandson Bert Steven Cochran II; two brothers; and four sisters.

Friends may join the family for visitation on Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM at Dodd & Reed Funeral Home. Funeral Services to celebrate Frank's life will be held at 2:00 PM with Rev. Curt Davis officiating. Interment will follow in Big Run Cemetery, Diana.