"It's amazing the number of people who make a fuss over you because you're 100," Ed Cottrell says, "but I don't feel any different. You get up in the morning and you're happy you're alive."
Ed greeted every sunrise of his life with that same joy and optimism, whatever unknowns the day held for him. It could have been the day he met his beloved Millie at college; the day he faced death alone in his crippled P-47 fighter-bomber flying over Nazi Germany; the day he hit his first hole-in-one; or the days he tandem-jumped from 14,000 feet, at the age of 90 and again at 99, in memory of two fellow fighter pilots who did not survive to see their own 100 years of sunrises.
When facing the unknown-whether good or bad-the simple life lessons Ed's parents taught him carried him through life. "Loyalty, respect, and integrity were the principals my father lived by," he explained. "Be kind, always be available to help people, and do what's right."
It was with this philosophy that Ed became an honored college professor and renown leader of health and physical education; a beloved golf coach and mentor; devoted veterans' advocate; and generous benefactor of multiple charities. "I cannot think of a greater human being, a true hero of a man," a grateful former golf student said of Ed. "His whole life is about helping others. So many lives are richer for knowing him because he is such an inspiration."
As Ed entered his second century, he didn't let a day go by without being of service. As one of a rapidly dwindling number of World War II veterans, he frequently shared his harrowing and inspiring experiences as an Army Air Force fighter pilot, not to glorify his heroics, but rather to honor the millions of men and women of his generation who valiantly fought-and died-to preserve freedom for generations to come.
Ed and Millie, his wife of 76 years who passed away in 2020, gave freely and generously of their time in support of a variety of organizations and charities, especially those helping disabled and disadvantaged military veterans living in the Sandhills. They also established educational scholarships in memory of their fathers, both veterans of the First World War.
Most recently, Ed turned his attention to healthcare. "FirstHealth was always there for us," he says. "Moore Regional is a great hospital where we got great treatment. When I heard about the new cancer center, I knew Millie would have been happy to support it."
Ever the optimist, at the age of 98, Ed established a charitable gift annuity with The Foundation of FirstHealth provided a lifetime monthly income for himself while supporting world-class cancer care at Moore Regional Hospital. "I'm happy to help Firsthealth. I like to see my gift go to work for other people." And with his gift in Millie's name, Ed gave cancer patients hope that they, too, will see many more sunrises of their own.
Ed recently passed away at 103 years old, but not before Lt. Col. Edwin Cottrell was inducted into the French National Order of the Legion of Honor, as a distinguished Chevalier, or Knight, in a medal pinning ceremony conducted by French Consul General Anne-Laure Desjonquères from Atlanta, acting on behalf of French President Emmanuel Macron. She described the honor as intended "to pay tribute to a war hero who helped liberate my country and Europe from tyranny."
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