DATE: Wednesday, July 23, 1997              TAG: 9707230413

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: PALM CITY, FLA.                   LENGTH:   25 lines

CYRUS R. COTTON JR.

Cyrus Rust Cotton Jr., 65, died in his home July 7, 1997.

Known and loved as ``Rusty,'' he was born in Hamilton, Texas, on March 9, 1932, to Anne Josephine Gowen and Cyrus Rust Cotton. He attended St. Christopher's, Virginia Episcopal, Oceana High, Norfolk Academy and Manlius before joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1950. He fought in the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1954. He married Betsy Scott Daugherty on Aug. 11, 1954. He graduated from Hargrave Military Academy and attended the University of North Carolina. He resided in Virginia Beach until 1976. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, a collector and investor.

Survivors include his three daughters, Nancy Josephine Cotton Childress of Virginia Beach, Kathleen Cotton Mulligan of Southern Shores, N.C., Betsy Cotton Kisthart of Boca Raton, Fla.; six grandchildren, Shane, Amelia, Molly, Jacqueline, Kelan and Kathleen; his sister-in-law, Carol Daugherty; his maternal aunt, Priscilla M. Gowen of Roanoke Rapids; and many cousins and friends.

A memorial service for Rusty and Betsy Cotton is scheduled for Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. in Galilee Episcopal Church, Virginia Beach. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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