WOOSTER “ Cifford Elwood Cotterman, 93, of Wooster passed into the next life on August 26, 2015.
Cliff was born March 23, 1922 in Wooster, the son of Frank Vernon and Mina Odessa Swartz Cotterman.   The youngest of three siblings, he was preceded in death by his parents as well as his sisters, Mary Lucille Baney and Marjorie Alice McClelland.   (Apparently they were not too excited about his birth.   Upon his birth, his older sisters decided they were œgoing to go home and spit on him  since they really didn ™t want a brother.)
Clifford attended Walnut Street School for kindergarten followed by Pittsburgh Avenue School.   He graduated from Wooster High School with the class of 1942.   Upon graduation, Clifford joined the Army Air Corp.   He completed training with the Air Corp at various bases in Utah, Florida and Ohio and served as a tail gunner on a B25 Mitchell bomber with the 434th Bomber squad.   He saw action in China and Burma while stationed in India.   (He flew a total of 44 missions and regularly attended group reunions in the years following the war.)
When Clifford returned from the war, he attended the Wooster Business College.   On September 22, 1946, he married Jeannette Eileen Chapman, the daughter of William Harrison and Lillian Lucille Eaken Chapman of Shreve.   Upon graduating from the Business College he began a life-long career with the Wayne Auto Parts as an outside salesman.   (He maintained his manner of dress well into retirement because œI ™m a salesman .)
Clifford was well known in the community as a result of his association with Wayne Auto Parts as well as his involvement as a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church in Wooster.   After retiring he became an active supporter of the Wayne Co. Historical Society devoting many hours to the museum.
Clifford is survived by his wife, Jeannette, his children, Jon W. (Phyllis) Cotterman, Jan S. Cotterman and Clifford Daniel (Josephine) Cotterman; grandchildren, Jesse, Noah, Seth, Nate and Jared Cotterman, Heather (King) Harley, Gretchen (King) Dang and Rachel (King) Miller.   Great-grandchildren number 4 boys and 2 girls.
Friends will be received 1 hour prior to the 11:00 a.m. service on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church, 621 College Ave., Wooster with the Rev. James Watt officiating.   Burial will follow in the Wooster Cemetery.
The McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to LifeCare Hospice, 1900 Akron Road, Wooster, OH 44691 or the First Presbyterian Church, 621 College Ave., Wooster or the Wayne Co. Historical Society, 546 E. Bowman St., Wooster, OH 44691.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.cmintirebradhamsleek.com.

Memorial Contributions
LifeCare Hospice, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691, or the First Presbyterian Church, 621 College Ave., Wooster, OH 44691 or to the Wayne Co. Historical Society, 546 E. Bowman St., Wooster, OH 44691

Service
Funeral services on Tuesday, September  1, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church 621 College Ave., Wooster

Visitation
Tuesday, September 1, 2015 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 621 College Ave., Wooster