Charles Cottingham

Charles Felder Cottingham, 78, of Decatur, GA passed away on Wednesday February 12, at Coventry Place Retirement Community, after a battle with esophageal cancer.

The son of the late Elizabeth F. and John C. Cottingham, Charlie was born on September 19, 1946 in Dillon, SC. He is a graduate of Dillon High School, and he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Clemson University in only three years, in 1967, and a Master's Degree in Mathematics from University of Michigan one year later, in 1968.

Charlie was employed by Bell Telephone Laboratories for almost 3 decades, with a two-year interim stint at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta.

From his teen years as an Eagle Scout until less than a year before his death, Charlie was an avid outdoorsman participating in and leading others in hiking, backpacking, camping, astronomy, orienteering, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, whitewater rafting, scuba diving, skiing, snowboarding, bicycling, caving, gardening, and nature photography. A very notable achievement as one of the leaders of the Atlanta Outdoor Club (AOC) was organizing the event and climbing the five highest peaks in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, all in a single day (July 11, 2011). With the AOC and the Over-the-Hill hiking club, Charlie led more than 1000 hikes and participated in over 2000 events.

Music was an instrumental part of Charlie's life. He enjoyed singing and songwriting, along with playing the guitar, trombone, and French horn. As a trained tenor, Charlie was a charter member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus under Robert Shaw, and he was an active member for more than 54 years. He also sang in two choirs at Oak Grove UMC in Atlanta, and he always led singing around the campfire on his numerous camping and hiking trips.

Charlie traveled the world extensively for both his career and for adventure, making lasting friendships wherever he went.

Charlie was preceded in death by his wife Joy Tuggle Cottingham, of Stone Mountain, GA. After only 13 months of marriage, she died of encephalitis in 1973, leaving Charlie a widower for more than 51 years. He was also preceded in death by a sister Beth Anderson (Bob) and a brother Robert Alan Cottingham.

He is survived by his older brother Richard Cottingham (Nancy) of Seneca, SC, sister Jennie DuBose (David) of Newberry, SC, and younger brother Steve Cottingham (Judy) of Anderson, SC. He is also survived by his dear nieces and nephews who adored their favorite uncle: Andy Cottingham (Rhonda) Hartsville, SC; Carrie Cottingham (Simon), Charleston, SC; Rob Anderson (Carly), San Diego, CA; Laura Anderson (Julien), Washington, DC; Kathryn Westurn (Tyler), Charleston, SC; Sally Baker (Matthew), Charlotte, NC; Dr. Carl DuBose (Nick), Kansas City, MO; John DuBose (Alice), Columbia, SC; and twelve great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to either the Oak Grove UMC Music Ministry (ogumc.org) or the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus (aso.org) in memory of Charles F. Cottingham.

A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held on Saturday March 22 at 2 pm at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1722 Oak Grove Rd, Decatur, GA 30033. Visitation will precede the service from 1 to 2 pm.