Herschel Wayne Cotton

Dr. Herschel Wayne Cotton of Russellville passed away at home Jan. 3 at the age of 90.

Dr. Cotton was born to Elmer Ernest (Ted) Cotton and Clayona (Ona) Brumback Cotton Nov. 6, 1927, in Seymour, Mo. He is a veteran of World War II and of the Korean War, earning the rank of sergeant major in the 816 Field Artillery Battalion. July 28, 1951, he married Willie Faye Kelley in Headland. He earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) in 1958 and moved his family to Russellville to establish his practice, Russellville Animal Hospital. He later opened Woodward Avenue Animal Clinic in Muscle Shoals, where he practiced until January 1993.

Dr. Cotton was active in local and state veterinary associations, serving as state president of the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association. He was a retired Rotary International member, former Rotary president and Paul Harris Fellow. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Russellville, serving as deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years. He also was involved with Gideon International. Dr. Cotton was an avid pilot and served as a charter member of the Aviation Council of Alabama.

Graveside services will be held Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. at Franklin Memory Gardens. The Rev. Richard Parker will officiate.

He leaves his wife of 66 years, Willie Kelley Cotton, and two daughters, Carol Cotton Ashburner (Jim) and Charlotte Cotton. He was blessed with six grandchildren who loved him dearly: Jama Ashburner Ketcham (Geoffrey), Bob Ashburner (Laura Catherine), Emma Ashburner Cook (Adam), Will Whitlow, Rebecca Whitlow and Ben Whitlow. He also has eight great-grandchildren. He has one surviving brother, Jack Cotton (Sharon), and was proceeded in death by another brother, Delton Cotton (Joy).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Gideon International.