Ltc (Ret.) David Cottington

LTC David C. Cottington, 82, of Copperas Cove passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. A Memorial Graveside Service will be at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 5, 2017, at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen with full military honors.

LTC Cottington was born on May 19, 1935, in Des Moines, Iowa. He was raised and educated in Jordan, Iowa. He married Janet Cofer on June 12, 1956, also from Iowa. He played on a basketball scholarship at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA then graduated from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA. He later earned his master's degree from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.

While serving twenty-four years in various engineer units in the U.S., Europe, South America and Vietnam he received three Bronze Star Medals, three Meritorious Services Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with numerals 2, the Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the  Louisiana Cross of Merit.

LTC Cottington attended the Engineer Officer Basic Course, Airborne Course, Ranger Course, Atomic Demolition Munitions Course, CBR Officer Course; combat Engineering Officer Advanced Course, Nuclear Weapons Employment Course, Defense Language Institute (Spanish), Civil Actions Course, Jumpmaster Course, Armed Forces Staff College, and Senior Commissioned Officer Orientation Course.

He was commander of the 146th Engineer Detachment, 8th Special Forces Group, Panama,: 554 Engineer Battalion, Vietnam; and 62nd Engineer Battalion, Ft. Hood, TX.

After retirement from the Army in 1983, LTC was employed by Copperas Cove Independent School District until 1998 as a math teacher at the High School, then as a counselor at the High School and Mae Stevens Elementary School.

Mr. Cottington was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Retired Teachers Association, Veterans of Foreign War Post 8577 and Copperas Cove Golf Association. Being an avid golfer he made four holes in one.

Mr. Cottington was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Maxine Cryder and Marie Carlson and a daughter, Lori Anderson.

Mr. Cottington is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janet Cottington; sons, Kyle, Kirk, Grant; and nine grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the charity of your choice.