Obituaries : Russell T. \'Ted\' Cottrell

Russell T. "Ted" Cottrell

Russell T. "Ted" Cottrell

VINTON: Russell T. “Ted” Cottrell, 86 of Vinton died Sunday, March 20, 2011 at Rock Ridge Residential Care Center in Shellsburg following an extended illness. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Vinton with Rev. Mark C. Urlaub officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton where Graveside Military Rites will be conducted by the Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post #57 and Iowa Military Funeral Honors. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 PM on Tuesday at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 East 6thStreetin Vinton. Memorials may be directed to the Ted and Naomi Cottrell Scholarship Fund c/o the Vinton Shellsburg Community School Foundation.

Ted was born March 23, 1924 on a farm in Polk Township the youngest of three children to John M. and Mary M. Primmer Cottrell. In 1940 Ted was a member of the State Champion Poultry Judging Team in 4-H. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Vinton with the Class of 1941. Ted was elected to the State 4-H Club Treasurer’s Office in 1944 but had to resign to serve his country in U.S. Navy during World War II.

On April 1944 Ted enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Ottawa AKA101 in the Pacific Fleet. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on June 7, 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Ted met his wife to be, Naomi V. Peterson of Vinton on June 14, 1946 and they were married February 16, 1947 for nearly 51 years until Naomi’s death on November 4, 1997.

He loved to watch the Chicago Cubs and University of Iowa Women’s Basketball. He could always be seen during the Summer time riding his John Deere mower on the streets of Vinton going to his next lawn to mow.

Ted is survived by one son, Gary Cottrell of Vinton; four grandchildren, Jason (Shannon) Cottrell and their children, Destiny and Dallas of Hiawatha, Jeanne (Steve) Johnson and their children, Daisy, Kort and Charlee all of Vinton, Justin Cottrell of Vinton, Jesse Cottrell of Brandon and many, many good friends.

In addition to his parents and wife, Ted was preceded in death by one son, Garth in infancy.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com