Obituary of Charles Allen "Chuck" Cotton III

Charles Allen “Chuck” Cotton III was born in Frankfort, Kentucky on December 20, 1936, the only son of Charles Allen Cotton, Jr. and Annie Louise Hanly Cotton. He attended Good Shepherd Elementary and High Schools. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1959, receiving a golf scholarship. He was also a starting varsity player for the Key Dets – the VMI basketball team. Upon graduation from VMI, Chuck married his long-time high school sweetheart, Margo Jolly. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant as a Ranger in the 101st Airborne Division. Chuck and Margo were the proud parents of six children: two girls and four boys. He worked for NATO forces in Fontainebleau, France before leaving the regular army to manage his family’s business, Rebecca-Ruth Candies, in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1964. In 1980, he went to work for the Department of Housing, Building, and Construction, serving as Commissioner there for 20 years. The essence of Chuck’s life was his love for his family. Their life was centered around basketball games, little league, swim lessons, camping on Elkhorn Creek, and long days on the family farm. Margo was the heart of the family, and Chuck was the head. In addition to family life and running the family business, Chuck had a passion for the poor in the Frankfort community. Active in the parish of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, he found his niche in the St. Vincent de Paul Society, where he served as president for over 30 years. In the 1990’s, he conceptualized and devoted himself to an effort to aid the homeless in Frankfort. The result of this effort was the establishment of a men’s shelter and soup kitchen. Which today operates as Access Shelter. Chuck was a director of the First Federal Savings and Loan. He also served as a member of the YMCA of Frankfort Board of Directors and as a Board member of the Galileans’ Home, an orphanage for disabled children. Mr. Cotton is survived by his loving wife, Margo, and his six children: Anne (Doug) Jenkins, Charles Allen Cotton IV, Will (Melissa) Cotton, Martha (Scott) Blandford, Sheldon (Wendy) Cotton, Russell (Beth) Cotton, and by eleven grandchildren. Visitation with Chuck’s family will be at Roger’s Funeral Home, 507 West Second Street, Frankfort, KY from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2016, with a brief celebration of his life at 7 p.m. There will be a friends and family gathering at the Good Shepherd Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2016, and then a funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the Frankfort Cemetery. Contributions / gifts may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society or the Coalition of Committed Christians (the Frankfort Men’s Shelter). We invite all of Chuck’s wonderful and supportive friends to join the family in celebrating his life.