Bill Cochren 1928-2019

William Wayne “Bill” Cochren, 90, Whiting, died Monday, July 29, 2019, at Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center.

He was born Aug. 4, 1928 in Whiting, the son of Walter W. and Marie Shannon Cochren. He graduated from Whiting High School in 1946 and attended Kansas State University.

Mr. Cochren was a journalist for the Topeka Daily Capital. He later worked as a store manager for Robert Hall Clothing for about 20 years. In 1966, he began Parallel Farms, where he was a farmer and stockman, and in 1981, he expanded Parallel Farms to include Parallel Farms Inc. in Whiting. 

He married Marje Riley in 1955. They were married about 40 years. She survives.

Other survivors include his children, Luke Cochren and wife Carolyn, Holton, Kim Bethell and husband Doug, Williamsburg, Phil Cochren, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Joel Cochren and wife Christie, Austin, Texas; a sister, Betty Scheid and husband Paul, Whiting; a sister-in-law, Mary Cochren, Kansas City, Mo.; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, June Henoch and Joy Manion; and a brother, Wendell Cochren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton with burial to follow in Springhill Cemetery in Whiting. Family will greet friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Jackson County 4-H, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.