WATERBURY, CT - Lt. Billy O. Cotner (RET) age 94 of Waterbury, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, August 1st 2017 after a brief illness. He was the widower of Gloria Cotner.
Billy was born February 7, 1923 in Wabash, Indiana, the son of the late Ora and Catherine (Thrush) Cotner. Billy was a graduate of Peru High School in Peru, Indiana and Virginia Military School specializing in radar and aviation and was commissioned with the United States Air Force. He studied and taught at Purdue University where he worked on the first atom smasher cyclotron and taught the first class in navigational radar school in the nation and also flew with the flying fortress in England dropping spies into enemy territory. Bill was an accomplished photographer and received many awards in Connecticut, California and Indiana and had photos displayed at the Chicago's Worlds Fair exhibition. He served as the Vice president of the TV engineers for 20 years, belonged to the Nutmeg Flyers where he would build and fly model remote control planes. Billy was also an active parishioner of the First Congregational Church of Waterbury where he served as moderator, treasurer, vice treasurer, and member of the board of directors for the Robin Ridge Apartments.
Billy's family would like to thank and acknowledge the nurses and staff at the Village at East Farms and the staff of Better Aging at Home for the wonderful care and support they provided to Billy and his family over the past several years.
Among his survivors are his children, Graham Cotner and his wife, Karen of Waterbury CT and Catherine Crouse and her husband, Ralph of Wolcott, his brother, Richard Cotner and his wife, Dolores, his grandchildren, Stewart and David Crouse, and Eric Cotner. He was predeceased by his wife, Gloria, his sister, Betty Eller and his grandson, Cpl Christian Cotner.
Funeral services for Mr. Cotner will be held on Tuesday August 8th 2017 at 11:00am at First Congregational Church of Waterbury. Burial will be held privately and at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Casey's Eastside Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted to assist the family with the arrangements. To honor Billy's memory, donations to the Corporal Christian Cotner Scholarship Fund C/O First Congregational Church 222 West Main St Waterbury, CT 06702 would be most appreciated. For more information or to leave a on-line condolence please visit the funeral home website at www.eastsidememorial.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lt Billy O. Cotner (Ret), please visit our flower store.
Billy was born February 7, 1923 in Wabash, Indiana, the son of the late Ora and Catherine (Thrush) Cotner. Billy was a graduate of Peru High School in Peru, Indiana and Virginia Military School specializing in radar and aviation and was commissioned with the United States Air Force. He studied and taught at Purdue University where he worked on the first atom smasher cyclotron and taught the first class in navigational radar school in the nation and also flew with the flying fortress in England dropping spies into enemy territory. Bill was an accomplished photographer and received many awards in Connecticut, California and Indiana and had photos displayed at the Chicago's Worlds Fair exhibition. He served as the Vice president of the TV engineers for 20 years, belonged to the Nutmeg Flyers where he would build and fly model remote control planes. Billy was also an active parishioner of the First Congregational Church of Waterbury where he served as moderator, treasurer, vice treasurer, and member of the board of directors for the Robin Ridge Apartments.
Billy's family would like to thank and acknowledge the nurses and staff at the Village at East Farms and the staff of Better Aging at Home for the wonderful care and support they provided to Billy and his family over the past several years.
Among his survivors are his children, Graham Cotner and his wife, Karen of Waterbury CT and Catherine Crouse and her husband, Ralph of Wolcott, his brother, Richard Cotner and his wife, Dolores, his grandchildren, Stewart and David Crouse, and Eric Cotner. He was predeceased by his wife, Gloria, his sister, Betty Eller and his grandson, Cpl Christian Cotner.
Funeral services for Mr. Cotner will be held on Tuesday August 8th 2017 at 11:00am at First Congregational Church of Waterbury. Burial will be held privately and at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Casey's Eastside Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted to assist the family with the arrangements. To honor Billy's memory, donations to the Corporal Christian Cotner Scholarship Fund C/O First Congregational Church 222 West Main St Waterbury, CT 06702 would be most appreciated. For more information or to leave a on-line condolence please visit the funeral home website at www.eastsidememorial.com
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