Dr. Joe K. Cochran
July 21, 1943 ~ August 21, 2023
Marietta Southern Funerals & Cremations
Dr. Joe Cochran, husband of Jane Whitehead Cochran, father of Jim and Cathy, and grandfather of 6, died peacefully at his home on August 21, 2023 after a very long illness.
He was a Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His long-time association with Georgia Tech began as a student receiving his B.S. and M.S. from the School of Ceramic Engineering. After receiving his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in Ceramic Engineering, he returned to Tech joining the faculty ranks where he ultimately served as the Professor and Associate Chair in the School of Materials Science and Engineering. He remained on the faculty of Georgia Institute of Technology for over 54 years. Throughout this time, his primary focus was research. He worked on several projects involving the space industry, DARPA, and various branches of the military. In addition, he was the founder and President of Ceramic Fillers Incorporated. Joe received numerous awards including the Hewitt Wilson Award for the American Ceramic Society and was inducted into the Ga Tech Roll Call Hall of Fame in 2013.
Joe, as he preferred to be known, was an exceptional person who touched all who knew him. He exemplified the meaning of kindness and humility. As a convert to Catholicism, he soon became an active member of Holy Family Church where he and Jane taught Early Childhood Education and they frequently could be seen helping in church projects.He also enjoyed having fun and meeting new friends. When he accompanied Jane to her 50th O’Connell High School reunion, he was so well liked that he was made an honorary O’Connellite.
Joe is survived by his wife Jane, his son Jim (Belinda), his daughter Cathy Myrick (Stuart), his grandchildren Colin and Regan Cochran, Spencer, Isabelle, Evan, and Tyler Myrick, and his sisters Mary McCool (Rick), and Martha Ward (Judd).Jane and her family thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.
His funeral service will be on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 11AM at St Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30062.
In lieu of flowers, if you would like to donate in Joe’s memory, contributions may be made to:
My Brother’s KeeperCatholic Church of St. Ann4905 Roswell RoadMarietta, Ga. 30062
St. Ann's DonationsSelect ‘Special Donations’Under Fund, choose ‘My Brother’s Keeper’Please leave a note, ‘For Joe Cochran’
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
My condolences Jane. Cliff and Joe were best buddies and will be reunited above.
Joe and I were faculty colleagues at Georgia Tech for 18 years (1985-2003) during a time of significant change in the School. For about half of those years, we worked very closely with each other as Chair and Associate Chair of the School. I remember the very constructive role that Joe played when we were merging the undergraduate and graduate degrees in Ceramic Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. Joe used decades of goodwill that he had built with students, faculty and alumni to get them to support the idea. There was unanimous vote of the faculty for the merger and we emerged a much stronger School as a result of that decision.
Being voted into the Engineering Hall of Fame at GT was indeed a very well deserved honor for his contributions! In addition to being a scholar of international repute, he was a very positive and a genuinely nice person who impacted the careers of several people.
My wife, Madhu, and I send our sincere condolences to Jane and the rest of Joe’s family for their loss and the strength to bear it!
Dr. Cochran’s office was right next to mine when we were in the Bunger-Henry building. He had so much energy- constantly coming and going, taking meetings with students, dashing to his lab. He had a wonderful sense of humor and I really enjoyed popping next door to talk from time to time. My condolences to Jane and the family.
I knew Dr Cochran since 1964 when I began Ga Tech as a student in Ceramic Engineering. He was my professor and mentor through the years as I completed my Mastets in 1980 and PhD in 1992. He was my colleague during the time I worked for GTRI and joined MSE until I retired in 2000. I will always remember him as a true friend.
With Love, from Kyle
I am very saddened to learn of Dr. C’s passing. Joe was my advisor from 1988-1990. Because of him and Dr. Chapman I was able to flourish at GT and beyond.
Dr C was always interested in my stories about Ohio State (my undergrad) when I attended in the late 80’s and I was always fascinated by his stories of OSU when he attended in the late 60s.
He was a good man.
As a former student of Dr. Cochran, unfortunately I learned just today of his passing last year. I’m so sorry to hear of his passing. He was a great teacher, a great mentor, a great friend, and a great man. I’ll cherish his memory. My sincerest and most heartfelt condolences to his entire family. I regret that I wasn’t able to attend the service.