February 11, 1951—February 22, 2014
Jerry Cotton, Major, U.S. Army Retired, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away peacefully at age 63, February 22, 2014. He was born in East Saint Louis, IL and was raised in St. Louis, MO, attended St. Mark’s Catholic Church and graduated with the Class of 1968 from Soldan High School. In 1973, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Missouri. He received a Masters of Arts Degree in Health Services Administration from Webster University, St. Louis, MO.
In 1973, Jerry was commissioned in the Army as a Second Lieutenant. He served with distinction for over 31 years, twenty years in the active Army and 11years in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard Administrator He completed the Army Medical Patient Administration Course at Ft. Sam Houston followed by duty at Ft. Bragg, NC and Washington, D.C. In 1980, he was sent overseas to West Germany for duty during the Cold War with the 8th Infantry “Pathfinder”, 4th Infantry “Ivy” and 5th General Hospital. As Chief of Medical Services, he was assigned to 5th Army at Ft. Sam Houston. In 1990, Jerry was sent to Panama City, Panama as the Chief of Clinical Support for Gorgas Army Hospital in Panama. In 2003, he moved with USARSO as the Army moved the command from Puerto Rico to Ft. Sam Houston. His Army military decorations included three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal and four awards of the Army Achievement Medal. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserve. He worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a Civilian Medical Planner to the army of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A period of two decades, Jerry taught students in Panama, Puerto Rico, and TX.
He and his wife (Dilia) attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Selma, TX.
In lieu of sending flowers, the family suggests contributions are made in his memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Website www.stjude.org. To post condolences, please log on www.missionparks.com/obituary.
