Rachel J. Cochran's Obituary
Rachel Jean Rice was one of three daughters born to Annie Mae Keenan and Coley Bliss Rice. She and twin sister
Margereen (Margie) were born on May 17, 1936 in Spartanburg, Union County, South Carolina. She is a direct descendent of
the American Revolutionary War Patriot David Daniel Pruitt. Rachel had a childhood of love, privilege as well as challenges
growing up on South Carolina land granted to her ancestors by former President George Washington near land that her enslaved
ancestors were forced to work. She also enjoyed visiting land that her Catawba Native American ancestors were forced to leave
by government decree.
In 1950 her immediate family was led to relocate to Buffalo, New York where she graduated from Fosdick Vocational
High School with her certificate in Cosmetology. Shortly after completing beauty school, she met a young airman named Bennie
Lee Cochran who was home on leave visiting his family. Bennie Lee’s mother Louisa and Rachel’s mother Annie Mae were
good friends and thought their children may like each other. They hit it off immediately and it was a beautiful match. The two
were married in 1955 and began a life together as he pursued his military career.
The saying “Home is Where the Air Force Sends You” was so true. Rachel was now a young Air Force wife who
travelled to many destinations with her husband. Their first home was at Travis Air Force Base, Vallejo, California. The couple’s
next duty station in 1957 was an overseas tour to England. In 1958 Rachel and Bennie welcomed the birth of their son Vance.
In 1962, Tina and Gina were born in Springfield Massachusetts. Their family was complete. During the Vietnam War
Bennie was sent overseas and Rachel took the children to Buffalo to live with her mother and to be close to Margie.
Upon Bennie’s return, the Cochran family prepared themselves for a new duty station in Goose Bay, Labrador,
Canada. Although it was a remote outpost near the Arctic Circle, Rachel referred to it as their very best assignment. They made
life-long friends; people who became like family to them. It was at the “Goose” that Rachel and the other NCO wives were like
celebrities who put on shows that consisted of skits, singing, and dancing and at the NCO club. Their fashion shows were
renowned for the fabulous costumes, beautiful make-up and wigs. The shows were such a popular attraction that Rachel and
friends were given a key to the front door of the club!
The family’s last duty station was at Wurthsmith AFB in Michigan. At the urging of older sister Juanita, in 1975 Rachel
came to Tacoma Washington with the children while Bennie prepared for his retirement from the Air Force.
Rachel was a determined woman, whose work ethic was forged early in life by the ironies of growing up in a society of
conflicts and kindnesses. She worked as a hairdresser at McChord Air Force Base Beauty Salon and later opened her own
salon called T&G’s (named after daughters Tina & Gina) which she operated along with her children for over 20 years.
Rachel now joins her beloved husband Bennie, along with their daughter Gina, and sisters Margie and Juanita. She is
survived by son Vance and daughter Tina, granddaughter Donja, grandson Sean, great grandsons Kaeden and Kendall and
many family members and close friends She will be greatly missed by extended family, friends and many others whose lives she
touched.
What’s your fondest memory of Rachel?
What’s a lesson you learned from Rachel?
Share a story where Rachel's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Rachel you’ll never forget.
How did Rachel make you smile?