Robert "Bob" R. Cotton

Robert “Bob” J. Cotton, 86, of Grants Pass, died Wednesday, June 28, 2006 at Fair View Transitional Health Center.

A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 3, 2006 at First Christian Church with Pastor Wes Winn officiating. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE Eighth Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526.

One of five children, Bob was born June 16, 1920 to Henry and Eva Marie (Trepanier) Hood at Stephenson, Michigan. He graduated from high school at New Pine Creek, California in 1939. For 2 years he was employed by Big Lakes Box Company of Canby, California operating an edger machine, trimmer and the resaw. In January 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army just weeks after Pearl Harbor. He was with one of the first U.S. Army groups to land in North Africa and was wounded in May 1943 about seven months later while serving in Tunisia. He received several service medals including the American Theatre Service Ribbon, EAME Service Ribbon with a Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal and two purple hearts. He was honorably discharged in November 1945 and worked in a mill for a number of years. In 1948 he met Dorothy Baker and on January 7, 1949, the couple was married at Grants Pass. For 30 years he worked as a carpenter foreman for Ballinger Construction. During his retirement, he worked five years for Louis Lawless at Lawless Roofing. He and his wife were foster parents for many years and became a foster father to an American Field Service student, Zen Maulani of Indonesia.

He belonged to the local B. P. O. Elks Lodge. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and had served as Commander and also belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars where he was Commander and served on the Veterans Council for many years. An avid Boy Scout enthusiast, he was an Assistant Scoutmaster and Explorer Advisor. He and two others took the first scout group down the Rogue River trail. He won many scouting awards including three John Bastian awards and the Golden Leaders award. His troupe won National Standard two consecutive years. He was selected as the outstanding Explorer Advisor this side of the Mississippi and won a trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico to receive more training. He led Operation Icicle where he taught snow survival to scouts. His scout troupes volunteered at Blood Bank drives helping set up and take down during local drives.

An outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, RVing and gardening.

Survivors include his wife Dorothy Cotton of Grants Pass; one son, Robert Cotton II of Redmond, Oregon; three daughters, Linda LaRoche of Live Oak, California; Carolyn MacMurrey of Portland, Oregon; Rebecca Tas of Aromas, California; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.