WWII veteran Lt. Col. Dr. Edwin (Ed Cotty) Cottrell giving the thumbs up from P-47 Thunderbolt cockpit

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

He was born in Oklahoma City, OK, 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 Cotty 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 with the 48th Fighter Group and flew 65 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations. Cotty received the Air Medal with eight clusters, multiple unit and battle citations, and, more recently, the French Legion of Honor Medal in 2024.

He retired as a Lt. Colonel from the Air Force Reserves 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, Ed was Director of Athletics and a teacher at the Milton Hershey School for orphan boys. He joined the staff of West Chester University (WCU) in 1954, where he served as a professor, multi-sport coach, and Associate Dean of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation until retiring in 1980. He was the head golf coach at WCU from 1959 through 1979, registering a dual-meet record of 202-69-1, with multiple Pennsylvania State and 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 Schools. 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 in 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 Cotty earned many honors and awards. These 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 from the State of Pennsylvania.

None of these awards meant as much to him 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 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 that loyalty, respect, and integrity were important principles 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 Ed 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, benefitting 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 WWI.

Ed greeted every sunrise of his life with joy and optimism for whatever unknowns the day held. Even in the last of his 103 years, he lived every day with purpose and passion. To celebrate his 90th and 100th birthdays, Cotty performed tandem parachute jumps with the Golden Knights Parachute Team to honor the lives of his fallen WWII roommates.

Thanks to Andy Biggio, Ed Cotty also had the opportunity to travel the world promoting awareness of, and the importance of, veteran sacrifices in WWII 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; several great-nieces and nephews; and all of those with whom he shared his life.

Fly High Cotty.

Celebratory Events

On Saturday, May 24 starting at 11:00 a.m., celebratory events are being coordinated by multiple Veterans Support Organizations, beginning at Hendersonville Airport. Highlights include a Missing Man Formation Flyover and a potential showcase of landing WWII Warbirds.

Later that day, from 2:00–4:00 p.m., a Celebration of Life will be held at Guidon Brewing Co., 415 8th Avenue E., Hendersonville, NC. All are invited to attend both events.

On Sunday, May 25, a Memorial Service and Reception will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville, 204 6th Avenue W, Hendersonville, NC.

Those who wish may continue to celebrate Ed’s life at the Hendersonville American Legion, walking distance from the church, from 2:30–4:30 p.m..

A graveside service will be held in Pennsylvania in June.

Memorial Donations

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

  • Dr. Paul S. Weed Scholarship Fund at Edinboro University

  • Dr. Elmer B. Cottrell Scholarship Fund at Slippery Rock University

  • Blue Ridge Humane Society of Hendersonville, NC

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