Gene F. Cottle's Obituary
Gene Francis Cottle, 91, of Decatur, passed away Monday, November 23, 2015 at Glenwood Nursing Rehabilitation Center surrounded by his family,
Gene was born on April 21, 1924, the son of William J. and Naomi L. (Gouge) Cottle, of Blue Mound, Illinois. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945, assigned to the “Torpedo Squadron” of the USS Shangri-La flying TBF Avengers. On April 8, 1945, Gene married the love of his life, Gloria, to whom he was married for 67 years.
In 1946, Gene received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Millikin University in Decatur. He then worked his way up to Staff Manager, Grain Division, of A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company in Decatur, where he worked from 1945 to 1975 before going in to private practice as a commodities broker. He retired in 1994, which allowed him ample time to play cards, water ski, and drive his boat on Lake Decatur.
In recent years, Gene traveled to Washington, DC, with his son, Randy, and other WWII veterans to visit the WWII Memorial with the Honor Flight Network; in May 2014, he climbed 133 steps to the top of Little Sable Point Lighthouse in Mears, Michigan to take in the view of Lake Michigan; and in August 2014, he once again took the controls of a WWII-era biplane for a flight with Ageless Aviation. His only complaint? That they wouldn’t let him land the plane on his own. This past spring Gene reveled in the arrival of his two great-granddaughters: beaming as he held and rocked them.
Gene will be remembered as a card shark with a head for numbers who was always quick with a witty retort; as an adrenaline junkie with a need for speed; and as a generous and kind soul who always had homemade caramels in his coat pockets to give to the kids at church.
He leaves behind his son, Randall Cottle and wife Joy of Seymour, Missouri; grandchildren, Selket Nicole Cottle, Graham Cottle, Heather Cottle Dillon and husband Matt, and Shane Cottle and wife Emily; great-granddaughters Laura Cottle and Madeline Dillon, and daughter-in-law, Gus Heinzmann of Bodega Bay, California.
He was reunited in Heaven with his parents; wife, Gloria; son, Michael Cottle; brother, William Cottle and his sister, Jesse Rowe.
Funeral services to celebrate Gene’s life will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, November 28, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Decatur. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, November 27, at Graceland/Fairview Funeral Home. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery where full military rites will be conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transporting U.S. military veterans to Washington, DC to see the memorials built in their honor, http://www.landoflincolnhonorflight.org/#/Home or the Lutheran School Association of Decatur.
The family of Gene Francis Cottle is being served by the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Ave. Decatur, IL. Please view the online obituary and send condolences at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
What’s your fondest memory of F.?
What’s a lesson you learned from F.?
Share a story where F.'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with F. you’ll never forget.
How did F. make you smile?