Mrs. Roberta Howard Cottrell, age 89, of 310 Heatherton Dr., Covington, died Sunday, September 4, 2011, at Lewis Gale Hospital-Alleghany.

She was the wife of the late Thomas Edward Cottrell, Sr.

She was born October 28, 1921 in Alleghany County, the daughter of Julia Ethel Sams Howard and Luther Nelson Howard.

Roberta was a member of Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church and the Philathea Sunday Class and the Berean United Methodist Women's Circle. She also worked for many years at the Virginia Welcome Center, and was an active member of the Jackson River Garden Club, and enjoyed bowling on the Tuesday Morning Coffee League. But most of all, she was a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, who enjoyed being a homemaker cooking and caring for her family.

Mrs. Cottrell is survived by one son, Thomas Edward "Eddie" Cottrell, Jr.; and two daughters, Brenda Cottrell Hicks and husband, Michael, and Angela Elaine Cottrell and husband, Robert J. MacDonald, all of Fredericksburg, VA; a son-in-law, Colby L. Bush of Roanoke; five grandchildren: Kerah Cottrell, Shane Bush, Ashley Megan Bush Scholosser and husband, Andy, Allison Gross and husband, Jeff, and Keith MacDonald; five great-grandchildren: Maxwell, Tatum, Emma, Brittany and Corey; and one sister, Darlene Howard Armentrout. Also surviving are a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Thomas E. Cottrell Sr., she was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Lynn Cottrell Bush, and five brothers and two sisters.

A funeral service was conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Barry Throckmorton officiating. Interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers were Shane Bush, Harry Metz, Bob MacDonald, Wayne Howard, John Klemmer and Eugene Young.

The family received friends Tuesday September 6th at Loving Funeral Home.

The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

Those wishing to send condolences online, please visit www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.