Archie Cothren

Archie Cothren of Dierks, Arkansas, passed from this life into eternal life at 10:05 p.m., on Wednesday, August 4, 2010, at the John L. McClellan Veterans Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was 93 years, six months, and 29 days old. Archie was born in Center Point, Arkansas on January 6, 1917, to Virgil and Dora (Payne) Cothren. He moved to Dierks in 1919, and has lived there ever since. He attended school at Dierks and graduated in 1934. On December 4, 1941, Archie joined in the World War II war effort. He joined the United States Army Air Corps. He was a member of the 92nd Bomb Group; 407th Squadron and served as a Staff Sergeant. He was a waist gunner on a B-17 Bomber known as the Flying Fortress and was a part of the first heavy bomb group to ever fly overseas in formation. On, October 9, 1942, he was hit by anti-aircraft fire over France. He was taken prisoner of War and spent 31 months in German Prisoner of War Camps. He was the first American Prisoner of War to step foot in Stalag 17B. He received the 17th Purple Heart issued in Europe in World War II. He boosted the prisoners' morale by organizing sports and activities to occupy their time, hearts, and minds. He was liberated by the Russian Army on May 8, 1945. He received the E.A.M.E. Campaign Medal with one Bronze Battle Star, the Purple Heart, the Victory Medal, the American Theater Medal, and the American Defense Service Medal. He is a lifetime member of the VFW Post 2256 in Benton and was a member of the American Legion. Archie served his community, county, and state in various ways upon returning. He coordinated Veterans' programs in Dierks, helped in the 1952 gubernatorial race, and served as Justice of the Peace for 46 years and performed over 150 marriage ceremonies. He started officiating football games in 1938, and officiated for 57 years. He holds the record for the longest football officiating career in the world. He received state and national awards including being inducted into the Arkansas High School Hall of Fame in 1996. Archie was an insurance agent, served as a municipal judge, quartermaster of the Dierks VFW Post, Boy Scout Master, assisted with the Dierks Medical Association, served on the Howard County Library Board, and was awarded the Dierks Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Service Award. Archie was preceded in death by his first wife Martha Isabel (Wynn) Cothren, his second wife Martha Maude (Edwards) Cothren, his father and mother Virgil and Dora Cothren, his brothers Duncan Cothren and Wat Cothren, and his sister Rose Beryl (Cothren) Reese. He is survived by his daughter Martha Rose Cothren; his son and daughter in law Archie Wynn "Cotton" and Holly (Harris) Cothren; three grandchildren Sarah Isabel Cothren, Charlotte Devereux Cothren, and John Patrick Cothren; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends from all over the nation. Archie was a national hero who helped this country win World War II and rebuild into the strongest nation on earth. Funeral Services for Mr. Cothren will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, August 8, 2010 in the Holly Creek Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Driggers and Doyle Clifton officiating. Burial with Military Honors by VFW Post 2278 will follow in the Centerpoint Cemetery, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., Saturday, August 7th at the funeral home in Dierks. You may register on-line at www.wilkersonfuneralhomes.com.