Charles Lawrence Ott Jr.

Charles Lawrence Ott Jr.,90, died peacefully surrounded by his family on April 24, 2026 at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House, Collierville, Tennessee. Born in Dayton, Ohio on February 8, 1936, Charlie also lived in Colorado, Illinois, and Kentucky, before settling in Tennessee.

Highly inquisitive and analytical, Charlie never met a math or mechanical problem that didn’t fascinate him. Charlie made his own way in the world, putting himself through college working on Model A Fords. Gifted in math and physics, he taught himself Morse Code while in the Navy, and in 2020, Charlie realized a lifelong dream by securing a patent for a guided laser backup system.

Charlie attended the University of Dayton, graduating in 1965 with a double major, a B.S. in Mathematics and a B.S. in physics. From there, he went to Xavier University, where he earned an M.B.A. in Economics. He joined the Navy in 1955 as an Aviation Electronic Technician / Naval air flight radioman, spending most of his time aboard blimps. He began his career at Technology Incorporated in Dayton, Ohio in 1959, and was a Senior Analyst with the Mead Corporation from 1969 – 1973. He worked with the Heublein (KFC) Corporation from 1973-1977. As a Systems Manager, Charlie helped develop and implement a distribution system supporting more than $100 million dollars of business nationwide.

In 1978, Charlie was recruited by FedEx. His career spanned more than three decades until his retirement in 2012. During the early years, Charlie worked alongside key pioneers like founder Fred Smith and Jim Barksdale. He eventually held multiple roles, including Manager in the Strategic Industrial Engineering Group and Tactical Industrial Engineering Group. His work focused on complex operational technologies and he was part of a team that helped design the early tracking systems for the company.

A good listener who loved a lively conversation, Charlie’s lifelong interests never waned. They included tennis, fishing, inventing, reading, traveling in his RV, Bluegrass music, and dancing. An avid Wall Street Journal reader his entire life, he and his wife Sharon were recognized as the longest subscribers in Tennessee during the 100th celebration of the paper in 1989.

Charlie is predeceased by his father Charles L. Ott, Sr., his mother Colletta Braun Ott, and his sister, Sister Marie-Charlette Ott.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years Sharon Lou Ott, sister Mary Carr Hueseman, children Kathleen Marie Daws (Arthur), Karen Ott Mayer (Kole Conley), Charles Douglas Ott (Stephanie), and Jennifer Ott Cremerius (James), as well as six grandchildren Addison Daws (Anna), Cortland Daws, Conner Cremerius, Kallie Cremerius, Elaine Crump (Nick), Tanner Ott (Bayleigh) and two great-grandchildren Mason Daws and Theodore Crump.

The Ott family expresses immense gratitude to the entire staff at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House for their loving care and support during Charlie’s stay.

Services will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Germantown, Tennessee on May 11, 2026. Visitation begins at 9:00 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. After the service, family and friends are invited to a reception at the Collierville Funeral Home.

A private family burial will take place at West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to one of the following organizations:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org

Carmelite Nuns of the Allentown Monastery, 3551 Lanark Rd, Coopersburg, PA 18036 (Checks payable to Carmelite Nuns)

Baptist Reynolds Hospice House, https://www.baptistonline.org/locations/specialty-facilities/reynolds-hospice-wilson-good-grief or 901-227-7123