Peggy Jane Cotton

Peggy Jane Koch Cotton, age 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 25, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on February 6, 1933, in Cincinnati, Ohio to Col. Ralph Arthur Koch, U.S. Army (Ret.), and Alice Ann Grunewald.

Peggy was an “Army brat” and graduated from College Park High School in Atlanta, Georgia in 1950. She graduated from Sullins College, in Bristol, Virginia, in 1952 with an Associate’s degree, and from Trinity University, in San Antonio, Texas, in 1954 with a Bachelor’s degree in sociology. While at Trinity University, Peggy was an active member of the Spurs sorority. During summers, she worked as a camp counselor at Camp Mystic outside Kerrville, TX. She was an avid swimmer, enjoyed fishing, and spending time outdoors. She even did synchronized swimming shows at the old Lone Star brewery in San Antonio. After graduation, she worked as a stewardess for Trans Texas Airlines (or Treetop Airlines as it was humorously referred.) Later, Peggy worked as a civil servant for the US Armed Forces in Germany helping with travel arrangements for the soldiers. She loved her 2+ years living in and exploring Europe and returned to Texas where she met and married Lt. Col. Waldon “Wally” Robert Cotton, U.S. Air Force (Ret.). Peggy and Wally raised two sons. She supported her sons in their many activities and was extremely active in Cub Scouting and continued to support her sons on their journey to becoming Eagle Scouts. Although she enjoyed traveling with her parents in the Army and her husband in the Air Force, Peggy was a Texas girl at heart. She loved family get-togethers, playing Canasta, fishing, and boating at the family cabin on Lake McQueeney, Texas. After Wally retired from the military in 1979, Peggy assisted him with their family computer consulting business, Quadra Tech, in San Antonio. Peggy had 2 very special lifelong friendship groups: a number of girlfriends she was raised with called the “Army Daughters” and another group of friends who affectionally called themselves the “8 Balls”. She helped coordinate and looked forward to her periodic “Army Daughters” and “8 Balls” luncheons as well as to her annual shopping adventures to Laredo with her daughters-in-law, family, and friends. After her husband passed in 2005, Peggy moved to Oakwell Farms in San Antonio and made some wonderful friends with her new neighbors. They enjoyed playing Dummy Rummy, drinking margaritas at Taco Cabana, and Christmas luncheons at the Petroleum Club. Over the past year, Peggy received exceptional care from Tiffany Lewis with AA Care Services, as well as from her night-time caregivers, Rebecca Infante, Mary Jane Ramirez, and Julia Jimenez. The staff with Ascensia Home Health and Tina Barron with Embrace Hospice provided excellent care for mom during this time as well.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Col. Ralph Arthur Koch, U.S. Army (Ret.), and Alice Ann Grunewald; her husband of 44 years, Lt. Col. Waldon “Wally” Robert Cotton, U.S. Air Force (Ret.); and her brother, Col. Ralph Arthur Koch, Jr., U.S. Army (Ret.). Peggy is survived by her 2 sons, David Keith Cotton and wife Ana Belinda (Garcia) of San Antonio, Texas; and Blake Eric Cotton and wife Annette (Champeaux) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; her sister, Susan Koch Gonzalez and husband Gus of Poteet, Texas; her grandchildren, Andrew Waldon Cotton (Melissa Ball) of Madison, Wisconsin; Noah Alexander Cotton of San Antonio, Texas; and Peggy Marie Cotton and Camille Elyse Cotton of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a great-grandson on the way in Madison, Wisconsin; her cousins; her many nieces and nephews who lovingly called her Aunt Peggy; and the family dog, Riley.

Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Peggy knew of her quick wit, her gentle nature, and her appreciation of family. She was the most loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, sister, and sister-in-law a family could ask for. She shared this same love with her community of friends. She will be missed more than any words can express and will be forever in our hearts.

FUNERAL SERVICEFRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 202210:30 AMST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH11 ST. LUKE’S LANEALAMO HEIGHTS, TX 78209

Interment will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church or to a charity of your choice.