Gordon S. Cochrane

Gordon Schaefer Cochrane was born in Philadelphia on June 13, 1929, to Jack Stuart and Elizabeth (Schaefer) Cochrane, the youngest of three brothers. He went home to be with the Lord on January 23, 2015, surrounded by his family.

Gordon graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1947 and from Drexel University in 1952 with a degree in chemical engineering. After graduating, he was hired by Sun Oil Company but soon afterwards was drafted into the army where he proudly served his country in Korea for two years. Afterwards, he stayed with Sun until retirement in 1985. His work took him all around the world, living in San Francisco and Glendale, Calif., Boston, Mass. to get an MBA at M.I.T. as a Sloan Fellow, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. He moved from engineering to management. He held numerous positions over the years, including founding member of Sun Oil Trading Company and eventually becoming its president.

It was at Sun that he met Carolyn (Cole). They married on September 6, 1958. Together they designed and built their house near Glen Mills, Pa. where they lived until moving to Garden Spot Village (New Holland, Pa.) in 2009. They had two daughters, Carol and Kathy, about whom he never tired of boasting.

Gordon was always active both physically and mentally. He loved learning new things. He was in the middle of writing his memoirs. Music was a big part of his life, whether it was playing trombone in high school, blaring opera music on Saturdays as he worked around the house, or going to the Bach Festival in Bethlehem. After retirement he and Carolyn traveled to many exotic places. They especially loved to share that opportunity with his daughters and their families, taking them to Bermuda, North Carolina, and Montana. When not traveling, he spent many hours outside working in his garden or inside in his wood shop. He was always generous with his time, talent, and treasure.

His faith in God was a bedrock in his life from the time he was a teenager. He was active in whatever church he attended, whether it be on the missions committee, as an elder, or teaching Sunday School. He passed that faith on to his children and grandchildren.

Even with all his accomplishments, the most important thing in his life after his relationship with God was his family. He was the catalyst for family near and far getting together regularly. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Cole) Cochrane; brother, Jack Stuart Cochrane of Sherbrooke, Quebec; two daughters and sons-in-law, Carol and Charles Kankelborg of Bozeman, Mont.; and Kathleen and Alan Coward of Landenberg, Pa.; and grandchildren Emma, Brent, Lindsay, Alondra, and America. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Norman Telford Cochrane.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 1:30 PM in the Garden Spot Village Chapel, 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland, PA 17557, with Pastor Chester Yoder officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601, for their missions fund or to the Garden Spot Village Woodshop.