John Frederick Cottingham

John Frederick Cottingham, Oklahoma City resident, passed away Monday, September 6, 2021 at the VA Hospital in Oklahoma City due to Covid-19 complications. He was 58.

John was born June 9, 1963 in Seoul, South Korea to Col. Paul Franklin Cottingham, Sr. and Frances Ruth (Heller) Cottingham. He graduated from Hayfield High School in 1981. John also attended Santa Fe Community College and Northern Virginia Community College and received Associate’s Degrees from both colleges.

John enlisted in the US Army in 1992 and was an Imagery Analyst from 1992-1999. He was also in the US Army Reserve from 1999-2005. John was a proud Disabled Veteran. He also worked as a Senior Systems Analyst, commercial truck driver and reptile keeper. John enjoyed competitive shooting, fishing, photography, cycling and snake-keeping. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Survivors include his life partner, Lisa Ann Giordano of Oklahoma City, OK and her daughter, Rachel Anne Giordano of Haymarket, VA; his children, Ian Franklin Lewis Cottingham, Graeme Thierry Heller Cottingham, Harris Frederick Tyus Cottingham and the mother of his children, Kelly Tyus Cottingham, all of Chesterfield, VA; sisters, Marsha Cottingham Babb and her husband Hollis of Guntersville, AL and Karen Cottingham Denzler and her husband Gregg of W. Chesterfield, NH; nieces and nephews, Melissa Dinsman and her husband Josh and their sons, Elijah and Luke Dinsman all of Northport, NY; Kaitlyn Denzler and her husband Jacob Morrin of Bangladesh and Adam Denzler of Las Vegas, NV.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Col. Paul Franklin Cottingham, Sr. in 1998 and Frances Ruth Heller Cottingham in 2010 and one brother, Paul Franklin Cottingham, Jr. in 1965.

Three words that sum up the life of John Frederick Cottingham: God, Family, Country. No one was more generous than John with his love, time and means. He adored his children and was an amazing, dedicated father. John never met a stranger and always did whatever he could for whomever he could.

At a later date, John’s cremated remains will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with his parents and brother.