Howard Cotrell of Bowling Green, Ohio, passed away on April 4th, 2026. Howard was born October 20, 1937, to Iden & Hazel Cotrell near Hicksville, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Leon and Calvin Cotrell & his wife Linda (Whitmer) Cotrell. Surviving him are a sister-in-law, Brenda Whitmer, of O’Fallon, IL; two nephews-in-law, three nieces-in-law, and their families.
Howard began his formal education at Mark Center Township, Defiance County, which he attended nearly three years. He had many fond memories of this charming country school with his classmates. He enjoyed his friends and neighbors in this rural community.
In 1946 his family moved to a country home near Antwerp in Paulding County. There he was pleased to meet many new classmates, friends and neighbors. He graduated from Antwerp High School in 1955.
He attended The Ohio State University in 1955. In 1957 he began working both part-time and full-time at Pet Milk Company in Bryan, Ohio. He also worked at Smith Hardware and Appliance, Hicksville, while continuing his education at Defiance College from which he graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
Howard married Linda L. Whitmer on August 4, 1962, in her hometown of Bradford, Ohio. He was employed by the Board of Education in Leipsic, Ohio, where he taught physics, chemistry and general science from 1960 to 1965.
In 1965, the Cotrells moved to West Lafayette, Indiana, where Howard pursued and received his Master’s Degree at Purdue University. Studies and assistantships included Educational Psychology, Psychological Research and Service in Audio Visual Centers. He was appointed full-time at the Audio-Visual Center at the Purdue main campus from January 1967 through August 1967.
They moved to Bowling Green in 1967 when he was offered the position of Assistant Director of Audio-Visual Services and Instructor in the College of Education. This department later became the Instructional Media Center. He was available to all tenured faculty wanting to enhance their teaching methods and techniques. He was trained by the U. S. Air Force in distance learning in exchange for instructing them in case-study procedures.
Howard was initiated into the Masonic Lodge in 1959 at Antwerp, Ohio. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Bowling Green and Greenwood Chapter 159, Order of the Eastern Star, Bowling Green, where he and Linda served as presiding officers in 1980. He was recently presented a certificate for 60 years of membership in the Masons. Howard retains his church membership and was a charter member of the curling club. Linda was also a member of First United Methodist Church in Bowling Green, a charter member of the Bowling Green Curling Club and a member of Greenwood Chapter 159, Order of the Eastern Star. Linda continued to remain active in the Order, presiding an additional four times and was Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter of Ohio in 1994.
Howard retired from BGSU in 1995. He was very thankful for the encouragement, inspiration, and support given to him by his family, friends, employers, teachers, administrators, wife, colleagues, church and lodge members. He believed and acted in a God-centered life with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to grow in the knowledge of the scriptures and to follow Jesus. Loving God and loving other people were important to him. He believed in liberty and justice for all people. He enjoyed storytelling, myths and jokes. He could share and care on a deeper personal level with another person.
The Cotrells were nature and animal lovers who enjoyed walking the trails at Wintergarden Nature Preserve, Oak Openings Preserve and visiting many national parks in the scenic western United States. Howard was an avid photographer and an amateur astronomer, rock hound and citizens band radio user, who enjoyed assigning CB nicknames to anyone who didn’t already have one. Their adored pets through more than 50 years included budgerigar parakeet they named Perky who was adopted in 1963 and eleven kitties adopted between 1970 and 2011 named Tigerje, Jasper, Skipper, Skyler, Tango, Toby, Cali Amber, Felix, Punkin, Kasidee and Tiffany.
An informal celebration of life service will be held at Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home, Bowling Green, at 1pm on May 18th, 2026. As light refreshments are being served, friends and family members are welcome to share favorite memories using the microphone provided. We will adjourn to the chapel for a brief Masonic service which will conclude the celebration of life, followed by a reception in the Banquet Hall immediately following.
A private interment will be at Lost Creek Cemetery, Hicksville, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio; the Wood County Human Society, Bowling Green, Ohio; or charity of donor’s choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home. Online condolences or fond memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.hannemanfuneralhomes.com.
