He was born March 24, 1940, in Radford, the son of the late George L. Cochran and Edith Sledd Cochran.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Robert Cochran, Geraldine Cochran, Alma Cochran and Nell Brown.

Tom married Ruth, the love of his life, on June 29, 1963, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.

Tom was devoted to the calling of Christ. He had read the entire Bible 115 times. He was a minister in the Appalachian Conference IPHC for 47 years, pastoring at six churches. He was a kind and honorable man, loved dearly by his family, friends and parishioners.

Surviving are his wife, Ruth Bittinger Cochran; children, Thomas C. Cochran and wife, Rima, and Julia C. White and husband, John; grandchildren, Cortney Cochran, Isaac Cochran, Mya Cochran, Mariam Azar, Alex White and Darion Slater; and his sisters, Hope Farmer and Peggy Snoddy and husband, Larry.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Chapel with the Rev. W. David Bain and the Rev. Mike Dotson officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at the Appalachian Conference Grounds Cemetery, Dublin.

Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Emmanuel College – Christian Ministries Program, P.O. Box 129, Franklin Springs, GA 30639.

Arrangements are being handled by Bolling, Grose, & Lotts Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

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JAMES “RUSTY” TOMLIN James William “Rusty” Tomlin, 91, of Buena Vista died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.

Born July 8, 1931, in Buena Vista, he was a son of James William Tomlin Sr. and Helen Marie Southers Tomlin.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Jamie Tomlin.

Surviving are his wife of 73 years, Mary F. Tomlin; children, Larry Tomlin, Stanley Tomlin, Keith Tomlin, Regina Shafer, Jeff Tomlin and Tommy Tomlin; sisters, Edith Corbin and Ruby Perdue; brothers, Leonard Tomlin, Maynard Tomlin and Lewis Tomlin; 15 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

James loved his family and enjoyed farming. He also loved working with his cattle and bear hunting.

The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Marlbrook Baptist Church by the Rev. John Tilley and the Rev. Radar Ogden. Burial will follow at Rockbridge Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends one hour before the service at Marlbrook.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to Alzheimer’s Association, 355 Rio Road West Suite 102, Charlottesville, VA 22901.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory. N-G