ELKHART -- Charles O. "Bud" Cottrell, 70, of 2601 Oakland Ave., died at 5:40 p.m. Saturday (July 22, 2006) at his residence at Stratford Commons in Elkhart.

He was born Nov. 28, 1935, in Terre Haute to Glen O. and Mary Lee (Bramble) Cottrell

He is survived by three daughters, Charlene "Char" (Gale) Lanning of Grand Rapids, Mich., Debbie (the Rev. Dwight) Metzger of Lakeview, Ohio, and Diana Zollinger of Elkhart; a son, Charles A. "Andy" (Danielle LaLone) Cottrell of Elkhart; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Bess (Norman) Merritt of Granger; and his father, Glen, also of Granger.

He was preceded in death by two sons, David C. and Charles D. Cottrell; a grandson, Michael D. Zollinger; and his mother, Mary Lee.

A private family viewing took place Monday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. The Rev. Dale Turner was present to share several scripture readings. The body was then cremated. Burial will take place at a later date at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola.

Mr. Cottrell was an RV dealer in the Elkhart area for more than 25 years, with the latter half of his career spent as a registered Airstream dealer. In 1979, he hosted the national Airstream convention, which was known as a "Wally Byum Convention," on the Notre Dame campus, where hundreds of Airstream RV dealers and enthusiasts would converge and see the latest Airstream models and accessories.

Mr. Cottrell was a past Lion's Club member, an enthusiast of old westerns and an accomplished ballroom dancer. He enjoyed attending the Indianapolis 500 time trials. He was a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Korean War as a seaman aboard the submarine SS-478 USS "Cutlass."

Memorials may be given to the Gideon's International Bible Ministries.