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James (Tom) Thomas Cothran
1931 - 2014
James (Tom) Thomas Cothran
1931 - 2014
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1931
DIED
2014
James (Tom) Cothran Obituary
Tom was the last of 9 siblings to travel to heaven. He was preceded by his Parents – Fred and Cora Belle Cothran; Sisters – Willadine Cothran, Irene Bryan, Mildred Baleria and Jean Marie Owings; Brothers – Eugene, Everett, Howard and Fred Cothran Jr.
Born in Tennessee in 1931, His family moved to San Bernardino, CA. in 1938. After he graduated from San Bernardino H.S., the family moved to Inglewood,CA in 1950. In 1951, Tom joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Balboa Hospital in San Diego. He then deployed with 1st Marine Battalion “A”, serving in Korea and arrived on the US Walker at Incon, Japan on May 1, 1953. He returned to Pico Rivera, CA. in Nov. 1954. Tom provided a home and care for their mother until her passing in 1964.
Tom was a Project Manager for JBI Company and very active member of the Whittier #323 and Rosemead #457 Masonic Lodges, where he served as Whittier’s Master Mason in 1970.
In 2006, after being retired a few years, Tom moved to Simi Valley, CA. to be able to spend more time with his family. Tom’s knack for interior design never stopped as he was always painting or having something new added to his home. His talented green thumb kept his home full of beautiful flowers and was the talk of the neighborhood. He always enjoyed a good steak or Mexican food for dinner. Tom was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of returning to Tennessee to visit his birthplace and the Great Smoky Mountains in late 2012.
He is survived by: Nieces – Karen (Dwight) Thompson of Simi Valley, CA., Kathe (Kent) Ernest of Ventura, CA, Mary Deane Gilson of Simi Valley, CA, Carol (Bob) Johnston of Lawrenceburg, TN, Joe Ann (Bob) Obermeyer of Montclair, CA, Barbara (Jim) Benecke of St. Louis, MO and Sandi Furher of Bishop, CA.
Nephews – Billy Cothran of Ethridge, TN, Gary Cothran of Lancaster, CA, Jerry Cothran of W. Virginia Kenny Cothran of WA, Jim (Dawn) Bryan of Chico, CA and Dennis (Eddy) Belaria of Woodland Park, CO.
Great Nephews – Matt May of Simi Valley, CA, Jason (Kelli) May of Simi Valley, CA, Jeff Ernst of Ventura, CA and Mike (Karen) Partello of Clifton. OH, Josh (Jen) Thompson of Pensacola, FL.
4 Entries
Tim & Riza Thompson
May 6, 2014
Dwight , Karen and Family, were so sorry for your loss, We Pray that God thru the Holy Sprit will comfort you with the loss of Uncle Tom!! We know he was a special man to all of you, He will be missed,
Lorraine Benavidez
May 5, 2014
We are so sorry to hear that your uncle passed away. We are going to miss seeing him on his front porch, it seemed like every morning when my husband would leave for work he was outside. We would wave hello and he would always wave back to us with a smile. On the weekends he would be out in the morning either pulling weeds or sweeping his front porch. Always, around the holidays he would come out side to watch my husband and myself putting up either the halloween lights or the Christmas lights. He would sit outside until we were done. A couple of times he would walk half across the street to tell us how nice they looked. My husband on several occasions help bring in the trash cans, especially when it was windy. My husband also would walk over just to have a conversation with your uncle. We are missing him, we walk out of our home it look over towards his house and it is all closed up. We miss his smiling face. This Christmas will not be the same, we won't be hearing his Christmas music playing outside. Your uncle touched our lives.
Thoughts & prayers,
Joe & Lorraine Benavidez
Moreno Neighbors
Rose Family
May 1, 2014
Rose Family
May 1, 2014
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