Sebastian W Botz

Sebastian William “Bud” Botz, 88, of Randolph, passed peacefully from this earth on January 8, 2025, after a brief illness and with his wife by his side. Bud was born May 12, 1936, to Elizabeth M. and Sebastian Michael Botz in Akron, Ohio.

The family later moved to a large plot of land in Randolph, where Bud and his sisters grew up.

Bud served in the U.S. Navy Sea Bees. In later years, especially, he was very proud of his service and always sported one of his favorite Sea Bees T-shirts and hats when he went out. He kept in touch with many of his Navy buddies throughout their lives, often attending reunions, visiting each other’s houses, and always telling colorful stories of their times. He enjoyed photography and believed color slides were the greatest format, even if you needed a projector to see how great they were.

Bud married Joyce Eileen Prock in 1961. Their beautiful marriage has been admired by many friends and family. They fell in love when Bud returned from the service, and Joyce was babysitting his nieces and nephews. It was a brief courtship, and they eloped to Tippecanoe, Ohio, getting married in a small church there. They were a pair, a package deal, and until his health began to challenge him, you could count on one hand the nights they had spent apart.

He worked for 40 years as a diesel mechanic and fuel pump specialist at Cummins Diesel of Northeast Ohio. He could fix anything you put on his workbench — broken dolls, toys, irons, small appliances, and anything mechanical. He was a master tinkerer and enjoyed woodworking, Nascar, and all kinds of machinery. In his retirement, he began to slow his pace, watch more TV, read more, and spend more time at home.

Many will remember when he and a neighbor built the” Crunch Bird,” a log splitter they used to split wood. He was the guy who plowed driveways and pulled his kids on a toboggan or trailer behind the tractor. It was Bud who checked the ice on the pond for the kids so they could ice skate and sled ride down the big hill. He was always the protector and provider for his wife and family. He mowed with precision and took great pride in his yard, garden, barn, tractors, and tools. He assigned chores like a naval commander, much to his kids’ dismay on summer breaks. His work ethic was uncompromised, and he instilled his values in his kids every day. He was a hard-working man and perfectionist who never called off except for a rare special school event for one of his children. He loved to tell a good joke even if he had just repeated it and whistle a tune like nobody’s business.

He and Joyce were always there to visit a sick relative or friend at the hospital. His family came first. He was the “favorite Uncle” of so many cousins. If you visited him without your spouse, he had to know where he was, how he was, and what he was working on—every time.

Bud is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Joyce Eileen (Prock), sister Doris Ellen Engler, children Douglas Botz, Teresa (Ron) Fedorchak, and Susie (Judson) Wadsworth, grandchildren Zachary Botz (Ashley), Brandon Kline, Mitchell Kline, Sebastian Kline (Becky), Terry Bauer and Cristina (Fedorchak) Monita; great-grandchildren Sebastian Daniel Kline Jr. and Addilyn Joyce Botz, and his beloved dog and companion, Zeus.

He was preceded in death by his father Sebastian Michael Botz, mother Elizabeth M. (Hobler) Botz, sisters Jeanette Kehner, Vivian R. Back, Elizabeth Wiland, and infant brother Josef Botz.

He will be missed by all who knew him, and the many memories of him will be held close and cherished deeply.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to one of Bud’s favorite causes, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Tunnel to Towers, or Wounded Warrior Project.

Friends will be received at the Wood-Kortright-Borkoski Funeral Home, 703 E. Main St, Ravenna, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Funeral service, officiated by Pastor Scott Hindel, will begin at 1pm.

Condolences and memories can be shared at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com