85-year-old Richard Carr Cochran of Fairfield passed away at 4:43 p.m. at his home Thursday, September 3, 2015. Richard attended public schools in Carmi. He obtained a B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University in 1952 where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He was in the United States Army Signal Corps from 1952-1954 where he was a corporal in the 366th Signal Battalion in Camp Gordon, GA. Richard obtained a J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University in 1957. Richard held a law practice in Fairfield from 1959 until his retirement in 1998. His law firms included Loy & Ziegler, Loy & Cochran, Cochran & Harrison, Cochran & Garrison, Cochran & Jordan, Richard C. Cochran, Cochran & Kakac, and Cochran, Kakac & Vaughan. He was Assistant States Attorney for Wayne County from 1952-1972, City Attorney for Fairfield from 1967-1977, and also a special prosecutor for the Charles B. Harris Murder, Arson & Perjury Trials and Appeals. Richard was Corporate Counsel for multiple area schools and towns.
Richard was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fairfield where he served on the Administrative Board, Board of Trustees, Stewardship Chairman, and Treasurer. He was an active member of the Lions Club for over 55 years where he was a past President. He was a member of the Fairfield Hospital Foundation from 1988-1994 and a member of the Sierra Club. Richard volunteered for Meals on Wheels for many years and also loved running, photography, camping and hiking.
Richard is survived by his wife Anne of Fairfield; two daughters Virginia Allison (Stan) Crisp of Moraga, CA and Susan (Mark) Young of Elsah, IL; one son Richard Carr (Lucy) Cochran Jr. of San Rafael, CA; six grandchildren Valerie Young & Libby Young of Elsah, IL, Alison Crisp of Atlanta, GA, Rebecca Crisp of Seattle, WA, and Marina Cochran & William Richard Cochran of San Rafael, CA.
Per Richard’s wishes, his body will be cremated and a memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 19th at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Fairfield.
Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. at the church. Following the service, his ashes will be interred in Maple Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the 1st United Methodist Church in Fairfield or the Fairfield Lions Club.
Johnson and Vaughan Funeral Home in Fairfield is in charge of all arrangements.