Rene Charles Cottrel

Rene Charles Cottrel

Rene Charles Cottrel of West Chester, Age 89, passed away on September 27, 2015.

He was the husband of the late Patricia Marsden Cottrel, with whom he happily shared 54 years of marriage.

Rene was born July 24, 1926 in Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. He was a graduate of Radnor High School Class of 1944.

Rene was a proud Navy Veteran who served the Pacific Theater in the Philippines and Manus Island for 2 years in World War II.

Rene belonged to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Deacon, an Elder and also sang in the Church Choir since 1964. Rene considered the church his home. He also was an Elder of the Greenstone Presbyterian Church of Nottingham, PA. Prior to moving to West Chester in 1964.

“Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve,” was Rene’s Guide to Life. He was a volunteer for Big Brothers, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, The Care Center for Christ, Save the Bay, Heifer International, Volunteer Land Core and Manager of the BVA Brandywine Valley Association Vegetable Garden for many years.

Rene is survived by three children, Stephen C. Cottrel of West Chester, PA, Leslee B. Rhodes of Tucson, AZ, and Christopher R. Cottrel of West Salem, OH. Rene also has six loving grandchildren, one who preceded him in death and one great grandchild.

Most of Rene’s retirement was devoted to his family, his church and his hobbies which were gardening, antiquing and sketching.

In addition Rene spent the summers of 1942 and 1943 as a working member of “The Volunteer Land Corps.” in the state of Vermont. These summers were spent living and working on the dairy farms bordering Lake Champlain. The love of growing food, stuff and working with Dairy Cows inspired the family to follow that career for 15 years before moving to West Chester in 1964.

Friends and Family are invited to his visitation from 10:00am -11:00am on Thursday October 22, 2015 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 West Pleasant Grove Rd., West Chester, PA; followed by his Memorial Service at 11:00am.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions and Donations can be made to The Care Center for Christ, 127-129 S. Matlack St., West Chester, PA 19382 and/or The “BVA” Brandywine Valley Association, 1760 Wawaset Rd., West Chester, PA 19382.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA, 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com.

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