On Wednesday afternoon December 26, 2018 Peggy passed from life on earth to eternal life in Heaven.

She was born on July 18, 1961 to Nancy Arnold-McAllister, a school teacher, and Virgil McAllister, a plumbing supply salesman, in Ashland, Ohio. At the age of two the family moved to Downey, California. Her parents instilled Christian values in her and as a young girl she developed her father’s charm, her mother’s loving ways and her older brother’s “don’t quit” mindset. From Peggy’s account of things, she and her brother, Jeff, had the typical older brother vs. little sister relationship. Through the years growing up, they played, teased and loved each other. Peggy was known to go door-to- door on her home street delivering holiday cards to her neighbors, a tradition she continued for her many friends. As a teenager, she accepted her Christianity and became born again as it is written in 1 Peter 1:3-12. In 1978, when Peggy was still in high school, her mother passed away from cancer; her father later passed away in the fall of 1994.

Not long after graduating from Downey High School, Peggy traveled to Hawaii to visit Jeff and his wife Teresa, who at the time were stationed at Pearl Harbor with the Navy. At that time Jeff and Teresa were expecting their first child. It was during this visit that Peggy met Jeff’s shipmate Tom. Love blossomed; Peggy and Tom were engaged on October 16, 1979. It was during their engagement that Tom accepted his Christianity and became born again. Peggy married Tom, the love of her life, on May 15, 1982 in the Bell Church of God in Bell, California.

Peggy enjoyed her career as a bank teller and new accounts counselor but in February 2003 she willingly moved to the East Coast when Tom was offered an opportunity with Newport News Shipbuilding. Once settled in their new home in the Portsmouth community of Long Point, Peggy, with Tom always by her side, became the strength of the Long Point Civic League serving as Editor of the newsletter, special events planner, administrator for the Executive Board and Neighborhood Watch Coordinator. She was currently a member of Three in One Church; always faithful and supportive of the churches she attended. Throughout her life, Peggy enjoyed people, could muster a smile from just about anyone and was always ready to enfold you in a warm and loving hug. She willingly shared her love of life with her family and friends, the most delightful lady one could ever know.

Heaven is her new home and she is no longer confined by chronic illnesses and the mortality of life on earth. Like a good song, when it’s over we continue to hum the tune. Her song was God’s joy in her life. I will continue to sing her song.

She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Thomas Cochran; brother Jeffery McAllister and his wife Teresa Self-McAllister and their six children, Shannon McAllister, Kirsten McAllister-Shepherdson, Karyn McAllister, Ryan McAllister, Lauren McAllister-Boggs and Aaron McAllister; father-in-law Robert Cochran and his wife Mary Almeida-Cochran; sisters-in-law Karen Cochran-Gouvin, Patty Cochran-Liston-Miller, Christine Almeida-Osborne, Diane Almeida-Gregory, and Amy Almeida-Carrk; brothers-in-law Bob Cochran, Dan Cochran, Kevin Cochran, Jon Cochran and Tim Cochran.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23^rd 2019 at 1 PM at Parkway Portsmouth, 3935 Twin Pines Rd., Portsmouth VA 23703

Lymphedema is a debilitating chronic illness that Peggy lived with for years. Donations in memory of Peggy can be made at the National Lymphedema Society’s web link to help raise awareness and improve the lives of others who suffer from this illness. Donate hereà https://lymphnet.kindful.com/