Robert “Cotton” Letner, 72, of Harrison, died on Sunday morning, May 17, 2009 in a local hospital.
Cotton was of the Baptist faith and had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Cotton was a native of Ten Mile, Tn. He was an all around athlete at Meigs County High School where he received all State honors in football and basketball. He signed with the University of Tennessee Volunteers as a member of Coach Bowden Wyatts football squad playing end and placekicker, lettering in 1958, 59 and 60. He also lettered as a member of the UT track team.
Cotton graduated from UT with a degree in transportation. He played professional football with the Canadian Football League Montreal Alouettes and the American Football League Buffalo Bills. He was a player/coach with the Chattanooga Cherokees semi-pro football team. In 1999 he was named to the Chattanooga Times Free Press best 50 prep football players in 50 years. In 2005 he was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame. Cotton enjoyed golf and fishing.
He was retired from Chattem Inc.
Cotton was the son of the late Charlie and Maude Alice Letner. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Letner Gunter, brothers, Chet, Curly, Billy and Lester Letner.
Survivors are his wife of 47 years, Bettye Redman Letner; daughter, Pam (Chuck) McMillian; brothers, Earl Letner, Howard Letner and J.W. Letner; sisters, Ann Letner, Ruby Trusley and Faye Letner; several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday in the chapel with Rev. Frank Redman officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Blevins Chapel Cemetery, Calhoun, Tn.
Visit www.heritagefh.com to share condolences and view the memorial tribute.
The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5-9 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.