Robert Cotton

Robert H. Cotton, age 80, passed away on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at the United Hospice House in Marlette, following a lingering illness. Bob was born September 8, 1929 in Hartsgrove, Ohio, the son of the late Paul Todd Cotton & Esther Maske. He was united in marriage with the former Ruth Chalk on August 28, 1959 in Highland Park, and the couple has cherished more than fifty years together. Bob was employed for many years at Means Industries in Saginaw, retiring in 1991 as a tool & die foreman. Just prior to his retirement from Means Industries, Bob founded R & S Tool & Die in Caro, and proudly passed the business on to his two sons in 2000. Bob had an exceptional faith in the Lord, and was a pastor at the Bethany Chapel Church in Utica for a year. He continued his faith in Caro as a longtime member of the First Baptist Church. In his spare time, Bob enjoyed farming his land, camping, fishing, boating and working on his family tree. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Ruth Cotton of Caro; three daughters, two sons and their spouses, Charlotte & Nick Straney of Eutawville, South Carolina, Donna Sanders of Walton Hills, Ohio, Roberta & Bob Waugh of Brunswick, Ohio, Bob Cotton of Deford, and Stephen Cotton of Caro; eleven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one brother and his wife, John & Mary Cotton of Crown Point, Indiana; one sister and her husband, Ellen & Bob Steinberg of North Ridgeville, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by one sister, Alice White; and one brother, Walter Butch Brainard.