Dale Lee Cochran

September 27, 1938 – February 29, 2020

Dale L. Cochran was born in Portland, Oregon on September 27, 1938. He lived in Portland his whole life and was a graduate of Lincoln High School.  The freshman class he was in was the first class in the new building.

Dale married the love of his life Edie on April 7, 1974 and their life of adventures began. They loved to travel and honeymooned in Hawaii. Among the many many trips there were some notable ones. In 1989 he and Edie, with friends Darcelle XV and Roxy traveled to Rotenberg, Germany and Salzburg, Austria. They went to Berlin and helped while the wall was coming down. People were chipping the wall and when the people found out they were Americans they were all given a piece of the wall. They vacationed in Australia (5days), New Zealand, Fiji, Alaska, Mexico, and several trips to China, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania and Bulgaria.   There was a photo safari in Africa, Greece & Turkey.

In the various travels there were celebrity encounters, including a brunch with Tony Bennett, after dinner chat with Paul & Linda McCartney & their children, Eartha Kitt, Frankie Laine, Cab Calloway, Pavarotti and others.

He was a firefighter for Multnomah County District 13 and 10 and then City of Portland, retiring in 1992, serving for 25 years.

In his retirement years Dale helped out at Helen Bernhard Bakery and delivered cakes, etc. He had a big heart and helped out at many charities, including Cascade Aids Project summer camp for children with Aids, and collected stuffed toys for them. One very near and dear to him was Toy and Joy – where he and Edie donated much of their time for many years.

Edie’s children have written some thoughts about Dale:

Dear Dale,

Thank you for the wonderful years that you spent loving our mother. The two of you blended so well and were inseparable, as was evident by your matching outfits. Your devotion and kindness to her and to Terry, Sandy, and Bob were outstanding. You always had time to listen, to talk and to offer advice where needed. You always had a joke and a laugh that easily filled a room. You and mom loved to travel, tripping around the world to exotic locations and your house was a treasure trove of mementos from those joyous excursions. Rest in peace.

Love,

Dr. Bob Thurman

Dear Dad Dale,

Thank you for being such a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. You always had a smile and hug for us. Thank you for being in our lives, we could not have asked for anyone better. You always were up to whatever adventure Mom or the family came up with, be it walking on the beach or exploring the many wonders of the world.

Dale is survived by his children: Terry Denison, Sandy Appleby, and Doctor Robert Thurman.

Five Grandchildren: Laurie Page, Jeffery Bonney Sr., Christian Bonney, Kuy Thurman, and Robin Olsen.

Four Great Grandchildren: Jeffery Bonney Jr., Indiana Thurman, Lottie Olsen, and Beatrix Edith Olsen.

One Great Grandson: Tyler Bonney

He was preceded in death by his granddaughter in 1996, Megan Thurman, and in 2017 by his love Edie.

You are greatly missed and we know that you Mom and Pepper are together again.

Love always,

Terry and Hal Denison

I feel blessed to have spent real quality time with both Mom and Dale before they passed and relish every moment we had. May you two be reunited and remain happily together ever after!

Hugs, kisses, and love

Sandy Appleby

In lieu of flowers the family would like any contributions to go to Toy and Joy Makers, Inc. in Memory of Dale and Edie Cochran.

5916 NE Going St.

Portland, OR 97218

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