Paul R. Cochran, Jr., late of Martinsburg, WV, and before that, a resident for many years of Frederick, MD, died on October 4, 2016. He was 93. Born in Booneville, MS, the middle child to Fannie Mae Alexander and Paul R. Cochran, Paul Jr. grew up in Terrell, TX, then Oklahoma City. Widowed from his first wife, Lillian D. Cochran (nee O’Meara), he leaves behind son, retired Navy Capt. Paul R. Cochran III (aka “Rusty”), daughter Mayo M. Lucas, grandson K. Andrew Lucas, great grandchildren, Justin Lee Lucas and Trentino Alexander Lucas; also younger brother, Bruce Cochran; older sister, the late Adrienne Cochran Huey; and nieces Nancy, Barbara, Shirley, Peggy, Holly and nephew, Wesley, and all their beloved children and grandchildren, as well as his best friend and neighbor, Kathy Zier.
Paul lived a colorful life. From WWII fighter pilot, 356th Fighter Squadron, 8th Air Force, in the European theater, to following briefly in his father’s footsteps as a salesman, he re-entered the Air Force to fight in Korea. He remained in the military until the early 1960s, after which, he retired with the rank of Major to sell private aircraft, teach flight ground school, give private flying lessons, and run several municipal Maryland airports, including Gaithersburg, Frederick for nearly 20 years, and Westminster. In later years, well into his 80’s, he proudly served as a docent at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
He was active in his church, was an incurable optimist, and had a penchant for dating younger women. A voracious reader of U.S. and military history, he also loved to golf and travel, and was a raconteur of the first water, possessing a sly and constant wit. His was a long and interesting life.