Obituary: Purple Heart Recipient Herbert Cottrell, 95

The following was provided by the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home:

Herbert Cottrell, 95, of Matawan, died on Oct. 21, 2013 in Old Bridge. He was born on March 8, 1918 in Perth Amboy to Herbert Cottrell and Wilhelmenia Brautigan.  

Herbert worked as an apple farmer for his entire life aside from his service in the Army during World War II. Herbert graduated from Matawan High School in 1937 and in 1942 he completed OCS and was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army. He served honorably until 1946.  

He was part of the D-Day Invasion at Normandy Beach and he was part of the Battle of the Bulge.  Herbert was wounded twice while in combat and was a Purple Heart recipient. After his service, his apple and nursery farming became his passion. His apples where even bought by the Heinz Co. for their baby food.

He was the Director of the Matawan Bank for many years. One of his projects that he and his brothers established was "Browntown Apple Brandy." Over the years he developed many hobbies, he became a licensed pilot and owned his own plane, he loved the opera, he enjoyed getting his Nantucket scallops, he enjoyed bicycling and hiking and he loved to travel. He loved to hike in Yosemite National Park and he even hiked in the Amazon in South America on his travels.

Surviving are his daughter, Pat Cottrell; his son and daughter-in-law, William and Stephanie Cottrell; his step-son and his wife, Louis and Kathleen Green; his grandchildren, Rebecca, Garrett, Kelly, Christopher, and Katie; his numerous nieces and nephews; his caregiver, "Rosario" Charo Fernandez; and his in-laws, Alice Owen of Anniston, Ala., Hubert Weaver of Huntsville, Ala., and Elvie Weaver of Birmingham, Ala.

Herbert was preceded in death by his first wife, Rebecca Cottrell in November of 1963, his second wife, Joan Brown Green Cottrell in March of 1969, his parents Herbert and Wilhelmenia Cottrell, and his sister, Catherine Wallace in 2012.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Those planning to attend are asked to arrive at the funeral home between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Entombment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Matawan.

In lieu of flowers, the Cottrell Family has requested donations be made in Herbert's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.  For more information, to send condolences or for directions, please visit www.pflegerfh.com.