Alton Norman McCotter

Alton Norman McCotter, of Wilmington, NC and Harbor Springs, Michigan died peacefully on Sunday, June 18, 2017. He was born in Vandemere, NC on July 27, 1929. He was the son of Alice Gallop McCotter and Charles Jennings McCotter.

Mr. McCotter is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joyce Land McCotter; daughters Deborah Jean Milliken (husband Kevin), Linda Gail McLaughlin (husband Bill); five grandchildren Kelli Milliken Corning (husband Richard Clark), Christopher McLaughlin (wife Heather), Kasey Milliken Buschmohle (husband Jordan), Kathleen McLaughlin, Sean Milliken (wife Erin); five great-grandchildren Caroline Corning, Hudson Corning, Sienna Buschmohle, Olivia Buschmohle, Grace Anne McLaughlin; He has many nieces and nephews who loved him very much; He adored his pets Cricket, Cruiser, and Deacon.

He grew up in Vandemere, NC. Alton attended high school in Rocky Mount, NC graduating from Wake Forest University and attending Stanford University for an Executive Business Program.

Mr. McCotter played many sports. He was very successful in basketball at Wake Forest where he became a top scoring center, taught a girls basketball team as a graduate student, played industrial basketball for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

He worked for Goodyear for 30 years. He was Director of Marketing at Goodyear in Akron, Ohio, Vice President of Motor Wheel Corporation in Lansing, Michigan. He eventually purchased (with several partners) Motor Wheel Corporation.

Alton retired from Motor Wheel in the early 90’s at which time he and wife Joyce moved to Wilmington, NC. They lived in Landfall and became boaters and golfers. They were members of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Mr. McCotter devoted a lot of time to philanthropic causes, one of his favorite was witnessing for God by giving out his cards “Life is Like Baseball.”

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home from 4pm to 6pm.

Prior to Funeral Service on Friday, June 23, 2017 at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church the family will receive family and friends from 12:00pm till 12:30pm with the service starting at 12:30pm.

Graveside Funeral Service will be at 2pm Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Celestial Gardens in Pamlico County near Vandemere, NC.

In Lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be sent to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1401 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000 Memphis, TN 38148.