Jimmy was born October 31, 1944, in Lynchburg, to the late William (Gilbert) Cothran Jr. and the late Marion (Maybelle) Henderson Cothran. He was preceded in death by two brothers, William Gilbert Cothran III and Leonard Alan Cothran. He was a graduate of E.C. Glass High School and he served in the U. S. Navy on the USS Marias (AO-57) where he visited many foreign countries. After graduating with a BS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tennessee Jim was employed at B&W/BWXT Naval Nuclear Fuel Division as a Senior Principal Engineer for 35 years.
In 1968 he met Martha Ann Harmon (Marty) Cothran on a blind date and together they enjoyed 53 years of wedded bliss. In addition to Marty he is survived by one daughter Angela Cothran Wrenn and husband Charles (Chuck) Wrenn of Ashland, VA; one son Bryan Christopher Cothran and wife Rebecca Carter (Becca) Cothran, of Williamsburg, VA; grandsons Jacob Ryan Wrenn, Brennen Riley Cothran and Carter Emery Cothran; and granddaughters Michaela Elise Wrenn and Isabelle Elise (Belle) Cothran. Additionally, Jim is survived by his brother William Thomas (Bill) Cothran and wife Rita of Lynchburg, VA and a host of loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
The loves of his life were Marty, his kids, grandkids, extended family, friends, travel, music, railroads and air shows. He was the “Concord/Rustburg Sports” van driver for his kids and others. He especially enjoyed the annual holidays, family gatherings, visits to and from the kids and grandkids and watching the grandkids mature in church, school and sports.
He loved to travel and took his family on vacations where they visited 45 states, parts of Mexico and Canada as well as cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Bahamas. He loved following the N&W J611 train, military air shows with the F14 and F22, being a Cub Scout and Cub Scout Master, working in the Jaycees and was able to do more of that upon retiring from BWXT in 2010. He was a member of College Hill Baptist Church in Lynchburg and Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Concord.
He loved music - especially teaching kids from his drum book and arranging rudimental percussion - which he and his brother Bill brought to the Lynchburg area in 1964. He played, taught and arranged percussion at E. C. Glass High School, the Presidents Drum and Bugle Corps; taught and arranged percussion for the Young Americans Drum and Bugle Corps in Newport News, VA and over twenty other drum corps, high school bands and marching groups in Tennessee and Virginia. He followed Drum Corps until about 2011.
In lieu of flowers, please consider Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Concord , St. Joseph's Indian School https://www.stjo.org/ , Disabled American Veterans https://www.dav.org/ , IPf Foundation www.ipffoundation.org or the charity of your choice.
The family will receive friends and celebrate Jim’s life from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel where a funeral will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Burial will follow at Fort Hill Memorial Park.
