Bill was born on October 15,1963 to Robert Thomas, Jr. and Winifred Wall Cottam of High Point. He graduated from High Point Central High School in 1982. Following high school, Bill attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington where he graduated with a B.S. in Geology. At UNCW he was a four-year letterman on the men’s varsity water polo team. After college, Bill pursued a career in environmental services and logistics, and later started his own environmental business. Bill lived in Dallas, TX before settling in Atlanta, GA.
Bill was an avid sports fan. He loved going to Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons football games with friends. In recent years, Bill loved biking and traveling with his sidekick, Scout.
Bill is survived by his mother, Winifred (Wink) Wall Cottam; brother Robert (Bob) Thomas Cottam III and wife, Debbie; brother, Richard (Dick) Shore Cottam and wife, Evie; nieces and nephew, Mary Cottam Keever, Betsy Cottam, Katie Cottam, Caroline Cottam, Allie Trexler (husband, Charlie), Sarah Smith, and Lynwood Smith (wife, Allie); four great-nieces, Elly, Francy, Barret, and Sterling; friend, Dr. Karen Joanson of Atlanta, GA; his loyal dog Scout, of Atlanta, GA; and many other great friends around the country.
Bill is preceded in death by his father, Robert (Moby) Thomas Cottam, Jr.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 17th at 2:00pm at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 108 West Farris, High Point, NC 27262. The family will receive friends following the service in the Garth at St. Mary’s. In compliance to the recent Guilford County mask mandate, masks will be required and social distancing will be followed.
A second memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 18th at 3:30pm in the chapel at the Church at Wieuca, 3626 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, or a charity of the donor’s choosing.
