Thomas Cotten Obituary

COTTEN, JR., Thomas Captain Thomas Randolph Cotten, Jr. died in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March 12, 2009. He was born in Charleston, S.C. in 1927 as the eldest child of Thomas R. Cotten, Sr. and Mary O'Brien Cotten. He leaves a wife of 54 years - Martha Lanier Reeves Cotten, two sons - Thomas Randolph Cotten, III and wife Sharon of Winston Salem, NC and Peter Tabb Cotten of Mount Pleasant, two sisters - Mary Ann Nelson and Martha Johnson both of Charleston and six grandchildren - Thomas Randolph Cotten IV and Lindsay Myers Cotten of Winston Salem - Strock Reeves Cotten and Matthew Sully Cotten of Bremerton, WA. - Chancelor Sox Cotten and Huntington Nandalyn Cotten of Lexington, S.C. He was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Walter Cotten. Captain Cotten graduated from St. Andrews High School and attended Clemson University. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952 and was assigned as Gunnery Officer on the USS Shannon. He spent two years on the USS Los Angeles before becoming Flag Secretary for Cruiser Division Five. Following that tour he joined the faculty of the U.S. Naval Academy and later became Commanding Officer of the USS Nespelen, USS Earle B. Hall, USS Kirwin and USS Laffey. He served in Vietnam and later joined the faculty of the U.S. Naval War College in Ne wport, R.I. Captain Cotten was awarded The Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star, WorldWar II Victory Ribbon, Vietnam Service Metal, and Combat Action Ribbon. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1978 and worked for Delex Systems in Washington D.C. and Norden Systems in Virginia Beach. A memorial service will be held on Saturday March 14, 2009 in Virginia Beach followed by burial at sea. Memorials may be made to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation - 291 Wood Road, Beach Hall, Annapolis. Md. 21402. Many thanks go to the staff at Oakdale Heights Assisted Living for the excellent care provided during his last years. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.