In addition to computer problems and weather issues in recent weeks, I am now back to working on my weekly column. Sorry for the delay. But that bad news won’t ever compare to what else has happened in my life.
My longtime soul-mate, Lyle Cochran, passed away on Feb. 7. We have been friends for an estimated 30 years off and on, mostly on, and he is truly missed.
When he didn’t respond to phone calls, two family members went to visit him nearby and found that he had fallen and had several medical issues. He told someone he couldn’t even crawl, and we don’t know for sure how long he was down.
He was transported to Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind., where he was admitted and remained until the following Thursday, when I got to see him for the first time in four to five weeks or so.
Among his diagnoses, of which cancer was one of the culprits, it was decided that his sister Wanda Armold would let him stay with her during his recuperation.
I prayed that I would get to see him before anything happened to him and I got that chance the same night he was brought to her house.
It was so good to see him once again. When he first talked to me, the first thing he said was, “It is what it is,” but I thought nothing of it and then he asked me with his kind heart, “Are you doing okay.” I assured him I was, not knowing that would be the last time I would talk to him. We continued our conversation and it was getting late, so I left thinking I would be back, but it snowed the next day, so I thought perhaps on Saturday, but God had other plans. Wanda called me that morning and told me that he had passed away at 1:30 a.m.
All I could think about is what am going to do without my traveling partner. We usually went to the various veterans clubs in Greenville and Union City, practically on a daily basis. A veteran himself, he enjoyed talking to those we would meet, as did I.
He had a lot of friends. I think he was loved as much as he loved being around them. He was so entertaining. You never know what was going to come out of his mouth. He made a lot of people laugh.
He resembles Uncle Si on TV’s “Duck Dynasty,” and enjoyed watching sports.
Lyle was generous, loved garage sales, and I hope to spend time with me.
Believe it or not, he also sang karaoke….with me, other people or just solo. Favorite songs were: “Margaritaville”, “Man I Feel Like a Woman,” “Old Hippie,” and “Redneck, White Sox and Blue Ribbon Beer.”
I say we have had at least a 30-year relationship. I actually learned of his existence when we were little kids and he got visits from the neighbor girls down the road. One day, we were down there and one of the girls told me that her little brother was in the house with their grandma. But I didn’t get to see him. It was Lyle, known as Bud by his family members.
The next time he came into the picture was in the mid-1990s when he moved next door to Jamie and me in a small trailer court in Ansonia after he moved back here from one of the Carolinas. As time passed, he came to one of my garage sales and shoveled us out during inclement weather at least once. We became friends after a while and the rest is history. I believe God must have had a plan for the two of us.
Little things have happened recently that remind me of him. I hope that doesn’t stop. I would never have imagined his life would end this soon. I wasn’t prepared, but I think he knew it and just didn’t let anybody know.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Marty Kuhnle, sisters Bonnie Salyers, Linda Maier and Karen Harkom, and leaves behind his sister Wanda and younger sister, Carol O’Connor, plus numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives.
Lyle would have turned 70 on March 9 and I will once again be thinking of him.
No matter what, if I could do it all over again, I would once again include him in my life.
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Jamie and I send our condolences to the family and friends of: Lyle Cochran, Mike Mayse, Jane Pepple Hammelrath, Todd Anderson, Jim Shuttleworth, Marty Hamilton, Janet Leis, Phil Newbauer, Rick Byram, Vickie Cost, Francies Walker, Neal Schmidt, Cathy Ann Subler, Patricia Sackett and Charlene Obringer.
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Please pray for Evelyn Riffell Sebring, Jeff Sanders, Gary Gilmore, Ron Cox, Dennis Riffell, Carol Good, Jim Short, Katie Cothran, Margaret Bonifield Middleton, Debbie Isaacs Miller, Melissa Anderson, Jim Short, Rick Beam, Kathy Stone Brewer, Carl Francis, Katrina Hoening, Rick Riffell, Vickie Martin, Jim and Amy Hanes, Tom Everhart, Fred Dakin, Carol Paul, Ted McCabe, Tracy Pratt, David Hiestand, Gary Knick, Kierra Reichert, Eddie Cline, Sharon Lapp, Terri Baker Buteau, Judy York, Roxie Thornhill, Sharon Miller, Allen Whittaker, Mike Hopkins, Don Rhoades, Dave Brewer, Clarence “Sam” Wilker, Chuck Cruze, Roan Brubaker, Vic Bothast, Tom Brewer, Dawn Dilworth, Carol Schuh, Gloria Hodge, Ralph Byrd, Jeff Brocious, Norma Kretschmar, Beth Davis, Terry Overbay, Terry “T.A.” Anthony, Katie Cothran, Lynne Bruner Hinshaw, Donn Thornhill, Carissa Rodriguez, Kevin Christman, Ivan Christian, Roger Fleckenstein, Bob Jackson, Penny Hopkins, Sherry Lawrence, Evelyn Manning, Kevin Schlechty, Darla Printz Whittaker, Sandy Partin, Sandy Gunckle, Tonya Kelly, Bob Christian, Linda Johnston, Terri Hunt, Patricia Maier, Dan Lockhart, Delores Beisner, Jodi Gilpin Snyder, Charlie Bulcher, Charlyee Severance, Justin Fritz, DeWayne Yohey, Katrina Hoening, Kara Didier, Don DeBord, Otis Stewart, Slug Midlam, Bob Peters, Judy Collins, Carol Hemmerich, Roberta Hall, Kelly Kelch, Nikole Baldridge, Mark Lovejoy, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Doug Whittington, Neal Gray, Randy Garrison, Kathy Gragorace, Donna Bixler, Cathy Melling and all others who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
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Happy Birthday:
Feb. 21 to Anson Phillips, Gary Moody, Kimberly Garber, Jim Owens, and Maegan O’Connor Rismiller.
Feb. 22 to Lyn Bliss, Jay Schricker and Jack Lovejoy.
Feb. 23 to Jo Ellen Melling, Barb Teaford and Jerome Dotson.
Feb. 24 to Jessica Riffle, Ed Huff Jr.., Stephanie Zumbrum, Harold Rismiller and Terry Holden.
Feb, 25 to Amber Godwin, Linda Waopelhorstt and Amy Fulk.
Feb. 26 to Julie Monnin, Joey Schmitmeyer, Amy Addis and Karson Garno,
Feb . 27 to Sherry Baker, Nancy Eardley, Nick Hahn and Brenda Reichard,
Feb 28 to Jessie Sink, Mike Honeyman, Judy Byers, Richard Hollinger, Bill Brown and Tami Liette.
Feb. 29 (Leap Year) to Susi Thompson and Janis Combs.
Happy anniversary to Gary and Judy Middleton on Feb. 22.
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Think about it: “ Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and very dear.”– Author Unknown
