Festus P. Cotten Jr., 81, of Trailwood Lane, Butler, passed away at 8:45 a.m. Friday in the Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia.

Born in Butler, Aug. 7, 1928, he was the son of the late Festus P. Cotten Sr. and Nellie Sager Cotten.

Mr. Cotten was a member of Christ Community United Methodist Church.

He retired in 1989 after more than 30 years as a truck driver for Butler Armco.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army with the 5th Infantry, serving during the Korean War. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star and three bronze campaign stars.

Mr. Cotten is survived by his wife, Minnie Etta Cotten; one son, the Rev. Ralph Cotten and his wife, the Rev. Lori Cotten, of Sharpsville; one daughter, Marcy Cotten Moody of Butler; four grandchildren, Sheldon Cotten, Bronwyn Farinelli and her husband, Anthony, Megan Moody and Chuck Moody; one great-grandson, Riley Moody; two brothers, Earl Cotten and Harry Cotten and his wife, Sandy, both of Butler; and two sisters, Grace Johnson of Montgomery, Ala., and Dolly Oertel of Butler.

He was preceded in death by two sons, one daughter, two brothers and one sister.

<B>COTTEN </B>— Friends and family of Festus P. Cotten Jr., who died Friday, Jan. 22, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the <B>THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME INC.</B>, 124 E. North St., Butler. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday from the funeral home with the Rev. Howard Burrell of Christ Community United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Burial Estates, Mount Chestnut.The family suggests donations be made to Christ Community United Methodist Church, 205 N. Duffy Road Butler, PA 16001.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.