TERRE HAUTE — Carl R.
Cottrell, 58, of Terre Haute, carried in the
arms of an angel, went to be with our
Heavenly Father, on Sunday, July 18, 2010,
at 4:03 p.m. He was a loving husband, proud
father, devoted grandfather, and pillar of
his community as shown by his biography.
Carl was born Oct. 13, 1951, in French Lick,
to Carl Frederick Cottrell and Ruby Ellen
Hopper Cottrell.
He is survived by his loving wife of 38
years, Rita (Luken) Cottrell; sons, Carl R.
Cottrell II and wife Lee Ann and their
children, Karis Adrianna and Carl Reagan
III, all of Avon; Clint R. Cottrell and wife
Brittany and their children, Bria Monet,
Bayleigh Milan, Clint R. II and Blaire
Mariena, all of Terre Haute; Craig R.
Cottrell and wife Natalie and their
children, Katarina and Angelina, all of
Terre Haute; daughters, Michelle (Cottrell)
O’Rourke and her children, Sean Christopher
II and Connor Michael, all of Terre Haute;
Yvonne (Cottrell) Spittler and husband
Matthew and their children, Tyler Matthew,
Jacob Allan and Baby Ayden, all of Terre
Haute; Nanette (Cottrell) Sheldon and
husband Brian and their children, Sanabelle
Larina, Brian Patrick II, Isaac Alexander,
and Rosalina Adeline, all of Camby;
Antoinette (Cottrell) Orman and husband Ryan
and their children, Andrew Ryan II, August
Ryan and Angelo Ryan, all of Avon. He has a
brother, Terry Howard and wife Deb of
Connecticut; and several nieces, nephews and
cousins.
Carl began school at the tender age of four
attending Rankin Elementary. He moved to
Clinton and attended Crompton Hill, and Van
Duyn schools. Always the outdoorsman, Carl
enjoyed everything the seasons’ changes
brought. He loved fishing, rock collecting,
gardening and Mother Nature’s woodlands.
During his years in scouting he earned
countless awards including the prestigious
Eagle Scout Award. It was during his youth
that Carl found a passion for cooking and
was educated in the art of Italian cuisine
by a number of Italian immigrants that lived
in his neighborhood. He continued this
throughout his life and had mastered his own
special Italian spaghetti sauce which many
have requested and enjoyed as their
favorite. He loved music and played piano
and harmonica, but had a true passion for
the drums. One of our own home town
musicians, He played drums for “Mr. Big and
The Bohemians” and then his group “The Chain
Reaction” which were both extremely popular
in several surrounding areas. He graduated
from Clinton High School. He attended
Indiana University in Bloomington. Carl
loved his country and wanted to proudly
serve.
He served in the U.S. Navy during the
Vietnam War, from November 1970 to December
1975. After completing extensive military
training in California, Illinois and
Connecticut, he was then sent to Ingalls
Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., where he
was assigned to the USS Parche SSN 683. He
was aboard the first crew, commissioned the
submarine and is a plank holder of the USN
Fast-Attack Submarine. Carl was as
Submariner and served as fire control gunman
in Weapons Control System in digital and
analogue. The USS Parche is still the most
highly decorated submarine in the US Naval
fleet even after its decommission on 19th
October 2004. While many of its missions are
well documented in many books and
documentaries, what makes the USS Parche
special are the Top Secret Missions that to
this date are still classified, Carl
Cottrell was one of the original crew
members for those missions. He received an
honorable discharge and returned back home
to Indiana in December 1975.
He attended and graduated from Ivy Tech and
served as president of Student Government.
He owned and operated Cottrell’s Electronics
while attending school in the evenings at
Indiana State University. He graduated with
a Bachelor of Science in Computer
Technology.
Carl met the love of his life, Rita, and was
married Feb. 5, 1972. As a couple, their
foundation was built on family always coming
first, and together had 10 children. He
taught his children strong family morals and
values in love of God, love of country, the
respect of life and the comforting joy of
laughter. This could always be felt with all
who knew him. Carl was charismatic and
people were always drawn to his loving
energetic personality and his smile. Carl
loved his children and took an active role
with the children and helped in the schools,
classrooms, and extra-curricular activities,
like coaching and scouting and sponsoring
sports. Religious education was also
important as he not only educated as a
volunteer but also by example. His
thoughtfulness and love of children extended
through several sponsorships and donations
to overseas missions and programs to feed
the hungry.
Always believing in education and teaching,
Carl taught at Ivy Tech in Kokomo. He was an
IT Director and worked for Global Weather,
Harris Corporation in Omaha, Neb., Chrysler
General Motors in Kokomo, BICC Cables in
Indianapolis, and CTM/ICT International in
Charleston, Ill. He was very committed to
excel in all endeavors and frequently led
special teams and projects often as the
first to initiate.
Carl was very active, proud and exemplary in
various Masonic organizations including
DeMolay, William Penn Lodge 727, Vigo County
Past Masters Association, Order of Eastern
Star Chapter 528, Valley of Terre Haute
Scottish Rite, Terre Haute York Rite Bodies;
Chapter11, Council 8, Commandry 16, Banks of
the Wabash York Rite College 72, Yeomen of
York, Edward Etchinson Council 326 Allied
Masonic Degrees (AMD).
He was preceded in death by his parents; and
grandparents, Walter Jacob Fischer and
Stella (Johnson) Shorter, and Ray Cottrell;
infant children “Our Baby Dears” 1, 2, and
3; and grandchildren, Baby Hope Cottrell and
Baby Valentin Cottrell.
Pallbearers are Carl R. Cottrell II, Clint
R. Cottrell, Craig R. Cottrell, Brian
Patrick Sheldon, Andrew Ryan Orman, Matthew
Allan Spittler, Sean Christopher O’Rourke II
and Brian Patrick Sheldon II.
A service celebrating Carl’s incredible life
will be held on Thursday, July 22, 2010, at
10 a.m., at St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic
Church, with Father Rick Ginther
officiating. Friends may call one hour
before services today at DeBaun Springhill
Chapel, 85 E. Springhill Drive. Catholic
Rosary is Wednesday at 4 p.m. Masonic
Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. Burial
will be at Grandview Cemetery, Terre Haute
with full Military Graveside services
In lieu of flowers Memorial contributions
can be made to the Carmelite Monastery, 59
Alledale, Terre Haute, IN 47802 or do a
random act of kindness for someone in Carl
R. Cottrell’s memory. He will be sadly and
deeply missed.
