Charles R. Cochran, 79, of Nokomis, died on April 5, 2024, at Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Sutton Funeral Home in Nokomis. A funeral service with military rites will begin at noon with Pastor Kyle Blackerby officiating. Cremation will follow the service, with interment to occur at a later date.
Mr. Cochran was born on Aug. 10, 1944, in Pana Township, to the late Shirley and Ruth (Stevens) Cochran. 1n 1967, he married Patricia Kamer and they later divorced. He married Imogene “Jeannie” Nagle in 1976, and she preceded him in death on Oct. 31, 2020. He later married Linda (Barnstable) Bradley on April 16, 2021, and she survives.
Mr. Cochran attended Nokomis High School and obtained his GED while serving in the United States Army. During the Vietnam War, he was a combat engineer and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals with four Campaign Stars, two Overseas Service Bars, Expert Badge (M-16), Sharpshooter Badge (M-14) and more. He worked as a coal miner for twenty-three years and was a truckdriver before, during and after that time. He was a member of Catch the Fire Church in Cowden and loved spending his free time camping and going on motorcycle trips.
Mr. Cochran is survived by his wife, Linda Cochran, of Nokomis; daughter, Barbara Eckart (Jeremy Saunders) of Rosamond; stepchildren, Cindy Fournier of Nokomis, Loretta Blevins of Hillsboro, Sandra (Robin) McBride of Texas, Scott Bradley (Dena Davis) of Indiana, Sonya Maretti of Nokomis and Steve (Donna) Bradley of Indiana; grandchildren, Tyler Engelhart, Sadie Keller, Johnny Keller, Matt (Christy) Bolyard, Brandon Bolyard, Hannah Black, Savannah Stevenson and Mackenzie Blevins; as well as many stepgrandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins; and sister, Shirley Brown of Pana.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Shirley and Ruth Cochran; second wife, Imogene Cochran; stepson, Jeff Bolyard; and step-grandson, J.R. Jones.
Memorials to honor Mr. Cochran may be made to Nokomis American Legion or to Paws Care of Montgomery County.
Sutton Memorial Home in Taylorville is assisting the family with arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at suttonmemorialhome.com.
