Cottrell

On Friday, March 28, 2025, Lt. Col. Dr. Edwin (“Ed,” “Cotty”) B. Cottrell (1922 to 2025) went to join his beloved wife, Mildred “Millie,” in heaven. He passed peacefully at the Elizabeth House in Hendersonville, N.C., surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., to the late Elmer B. Cottrell and Emma Anschutz Cottrell.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 76 years, Millie Cottrell; and his sister, Eleanor Hartzell.

Ed graduated from Slippery Rock High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock State Teachers College, a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate from Penn State University.

Ed postponed his higher education in 1944, to volunteer for the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot during World War II with the 48th Fighter Group and flew 65 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations. Cotty received the Air Medal with eight clusters, plus unit and battle citations, and more recently, the French Legion of Honor Medal in 2024.

He retired as a lieutenant commander from the Air Force Reserve after serving 28 years as a liaison officer to the Air Force Academy. He continued to support the military by founding and sponsoring fundraisers for veterans.

In his educational career, upon completing his doctorate, he was director of athletics and a teacher at Milton Hershey School for orphan boys. He joined the staff of West Chester University (WCU) in 1954, and assumed roles as a professor, multisport coach, and associate dean of health, physical education and recreation, until retiring in 1980. He was the head golf coach there from 1959 through 1979, registering a dual meet record of 202-69-1 with multiple Pennsylvania State championships as well as mid-Atlantic Conference championships.

After retirement, he continued his golf interests by instructing or directing at multiple golf schools including Duke University Golf School and Junior Golf. In addition, for 26 years he was an educational golf consultant and director of education for the Far East for the National Golf Foundation (NGF). He started his own golf school and conducted golf clinics around the world, including Holland, Japan, and throughout the U.S. Ed also coached the Netherlands men’s and women’s World Cup Teams in 1988.

In recognition of his long dedication to education, Ed earned many honors and awards. They included multiple Hall of Fame inductions from universities and the Golf Coaches Association of America. He was honored with the Joe Graffis Award for outstanding service and dedication to the educational advancement of golf by the NGF and the Don Rossi Award from the Japan Society of Golf Science. In 2004, he received the Golf Coaches of America Distinguished Honor Award. In addition, he was honored with three educational awards by the state of Pennsylvania. None of these awards meant as much as the personal relationships he established with his students, team members, colleagues, friends and family.

Ed was a people person, never met a stranger, formed bonds easily, and maintained all those treasured friendships for the rest of his life. He delighted in mentoring people to be successful in work, relationships and life. His philosophy, passed down from his father, was “loyalty, respect and integrity were important principals to live by. Be kind, always be available to help people, and do what’s right.” This philosophy had an unexpected long-term impact. Thirty-seven years after Cotty coached him at WCU, a former student golf team member and his wife, Gary and Claire Daniels, established the Dr. Edwin Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center. Their philanthropic gesture not only honored “Doc” but continues to benefit numerous WCU students.

Cotty was a man who gave of himself, which benefited every life he touched. He was a devoted veterans advocate and a generous benefactor of multiple charities. He and his wife, Millie, established two educational scholarships in honor of each of their fathers who served in World War I.

Ed greeted every sunrise of his life with joy and optimism for whatever unknowns that day held for him. Even in the last of his 103 years, he lived every day with purpose and passion. To celebrate his 90th and 100th birthdays, Cotty did a tandem parachute jump with the Golden Knights Parachute Team to honor the lives of his roommates that he lost in World War II. Thanks to Andy Biggio, Cotty also had the opportunity to travel the world promoting awareness and the importance of veteran sacrifices in World War II, while building a new network of friends.

Left to cherish Ed’s memory are his daughters, Carol Fisher (Thomas Schwartz) and Susan Nation, all of Hendersonville; nephews, Col. Donald Hartzell (Mary Stuart) and Dr. John Greenwood (Linda); nieces, Maj. Gen. Trudy Clark and Marie Van Aart; and several great-nieces and great-nephews; along with all of those with whom he shared his life.

Fly High Cotty.

COTTRELL — On Saturday, June 21, starting at 1:30 p.m., a graveside service and interment with full military honors will be held for Lt. Col. Dr. Edwin B. Cottrell, who died Friday, March 28, 2025, at Ever Green Cemetery, 109 Concord St., Union City, Pa. Please be aware that this service takes place on uneven ground.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Elmer B. Cottrell Scholarship fund at Slippery Rock University or The Veteran's History Museum of the Carolinas, Brevard, N.C.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.