Mrs. Thelma B. Cotton, 91, of Greencastle, PA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, MD.
Born on December 11, 1934, in Greencastle, she was one of six children born to the late Russell and Ella V. (Carbaugh) Tosten. Thelma was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
She married John H. Cotton on December 6, 1950, in Hagerstown, MD. He preceded her in death in 1998.
Thelma was a talented seamstress and devoted many years of her life to her craft. She was employed by Tracey’s Fashions in Chambersburg as a seamstress for 40 years. In addition, she did embroidery work and was employed at Greencastle Sportsworld for 10 years and Del Martin Screen Printing in Greencastle for 15 years. She continued working until the age of 81. Her love for sewing extended beyond her career, as she often spent her free time sewing. She also enjoyed planting flowers sand working in her garden.
Thelma was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother. She will be remembered as a strong, persevering and generous woman with a great sense of humor, who loved her family more than anything.
She is survived by two children: Karen A. Hammond of Martinsburg, WV and Larry “Steve” Cotton and his wife, Denise of Greencastle; eleven grandchildren: Richie Hammond, Melissa Hammond, Jason Cotton, Nicole Henson, Joshua Cotton, Carla Hurley, Jessica Frazier, Joe Frazier, Ronald Cotton, Jr., Robert Cotton and Michael Cotton; eighteen great-grandchildren with another one expected in November; five great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was especially close to her nephew, Monte “Pete” Tosten, whom she helped her parents raise, Pete’s wife, Karla and his two children, Tina and Danielle, whom Thelma considered her grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two children: John H. Cotton, Jr. and Ronald C. Cotton; her son-in-law, Richard Hammond, II; her five siblings: Clarence Tosten, Junior Tosten, Jane Shew, Francis Shew and Anna Mary Wingert and a dear family friend and her companion of eighteen years, Charles Wenger.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Miller-Bowersox Funeral Home, 521 South Washington Street, Greencastle, PA, with Pastor Victor Moon officiating.
Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Greencastle.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home at 12:30 P.M. until the time of the service.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com.
