Dairy farmer ran family's operation

1/15/2005

TIFFIN - John Albert Cochran, a dairy farmer who spent most of his life on a farm, died Wednesday in his home from complications of cancer. He was 75.

Born in rural Green Springs, Ohio, Mr. Cochran attended public schools and graduated from Melmore High School in 1947.

He then went into the family business working on his parents' dairy farm, which he later inherited and renamed "Little Dairy on the Prairie."

"He loved everything about being a farmer," his son, John Cochran, Jr., said.

Mr. Cochran retired from farming in 1996 and took on part-time jobs to fill his time. He was most recently employed at Carquest Auto Parts in Tiffin.

He also loved traveling and had been to Japan and every American state with the exception of Alaska.

He was a very active member of Washington Street United Methodist Church, where he was a greeter and an usher. He was also a member of Dads of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Tiffin Eagles Aerie 402, and the Tiffin Lions Club.

His first marriage to Geraldine Altman, now deceased, ended in divorce and, in 1975, he married Maxine O'Millian.

Surviving are his wife, Maxine; son, John; stepdaughter, Bonnie Parsons; stepsons, Greg O'Millian, Ricky O'Millian, Steve O'Millian, Kevin O'Millian, and Jody O'Millian; six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in the Hoffmann-Gottfried-Mack Funeral Home, Tiffin.

The family suggests tributes to Washington Street United Methodist Church or Community Hospice Care.