Russell E. Cogansparger

Cogansparger, Russell E. "Cogie" Age 94, born on August 8, 1923 to the late Llewellyn William and Lena (Wetherbee) Cogansparger, passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2018. Russ was pre-deceased by his loving wife of 69 years, Virginia “Ginny” Cogansparger.Surviving family include children, Carol Din of Martinsburg, WV and Lee (Marilyn) Cogansparger of Lancaster, PA; grandchildren, Elisa Rushing of Lancaster, PA and Evan (Kirsten) Cogansparger of San Angelo, TX; great grandchildren, Sydney, Preston, and Parker Cogansparger and Kaylee Rushing. Russ graduated from Southside High School with the class of 1941 and then began working for New York Telephone. He entered the US Army in November, 1942 and served in the Army Air Force as a co-pilot on B-17 bombers, completing 35 missions over Germany between August and December of 1944 and received the Air Medal and 5 Oak Leaf Clusters.After his discharge from the service in 1945 he returned to NY Telephone where he worked until retiring in 1983.Russ attended Pennsylvania Avenue United Methodist Church and belonged to the Twin Tiers Squares. Family and friends are invited to call at the Olthof Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 Pennsylvania Ave., Elmira, NY on Saturday, March 24, from 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM.At 11:15 AM, a brief memorial service will be conducted by Rev. William Vallet of the Pennsylvania Avenue United Methodist Church.Interment will take place privately at the convenience of the family at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.