Joe Scott Bottorff

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Joe Scott Bottorff. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Joe was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Joe knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Joe was born on July 15, 1918 at his Sullivan, Indiana home. His parents were John and Mary (McClure) Bottorff. Joe was raised in Southern Indiana. Even as a youngster, Joe learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Joe was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Joe was raised with three siblings. He had two sisters, Geneva (Francis) Crew and Lois (John) Wallace, and one brother Harley (Lena) Bottorff. Joe had an inborn appreciation for order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Joe, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Joe's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Joe enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Joe took part in baseball and basketball. In his spare time he liked collecting and playing with marbles.

In school, Joe was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Joe was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Joe’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Blackhawk High School in 1936. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Math. Joe played in the band and on the basketball team.

Joe was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Joe was a member of a group; his interaction worked to keep others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Joe came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were Harry Mock and Ruth Freeman. Later in life, he became friends with Henry Donnell, Paul Kneer, Bob and Helen Baldwin.

An objective and conscientious individual, Joe reveled in the security of his family. On September 18, 1947 Joe exchanged wedding vows with Helen Louise Fortener at the Immaculate Conception Church Rectory of Ottoville, Ohio. One of Joe’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Joe was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Joe would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Joe was blessed with seven children, three sons, Peter, Eric and Thomas and four daughters, Margaret Voght, Jane Zingaro, Gina Platt and Mary Sollberger. They were also blessed with nine grandchildren, Brian, Brad, Elizabeth (Knapp), Robert Bottorff, Sarah Jo Short, Patrick, Erika (Opalecky) Zingaro and Kristen and Thomas Sollberger; and six great grandchildren, Maddie, Sammie, Owen, Conner, Ethan and Ailey Kate.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Joe was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Joe was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Joe upheld his standards. His primary occupation was as a wire technician. He was employed for 30 years by General Electric. Joe was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Joe was an Army veteran. His sense of duty helped lead him into the military where his understanding of rank, his willingness to abide by rules and regulations and his desire to follow orders was admired by his fellow service men and women. He was active duty in the Army from 1941 - 1946 and in the Army Reserve from 1946 - 1966. Joe saw action for WWII. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Joe approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were reading, coin collecting and gardening. Joe was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Joe to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. In high school, Joe played basketball. Recreational sports included bowling and walking. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball, college football and auto racing.

Being generous with his time and energy, Joe liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. He was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. His desire to uphold traditions and his ability to take charge of any type of project made him a tremendous asset. Throughout his later years, Joe was an active member of the Bishop Luers Band Boosters and the Masonic Lodge in Bluffton.

A civic-minded person, Joe was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. He was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Joe was a member of several community groups, including serving on committees for the Zanesville Lions Club. During these years, Joe applied his analytical intellect to problem solving and so was an asset on most committees.

Faith was important to Joe. He held high moral standards. For that reason he held deep spiritual beliefs that he was willing to share. He was a member of Zanesville Church of God.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Joe used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. Joe had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included trips to Hawaii, phoenix, San Francisco and Mexico numerous times.

Joe was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Joe’s favorites was Beaut, a black horse from when he was a small boy. Beaut was a workhorse in addition to being Joe's pet. His family was rounded out by his many cats; such as Meeko and Odo.

When Joe’s retirement finally arrived in 1980, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. His new life involved relocating to Texas for 16 years and after 1996 to Wesley Chapel, Florida during the winter months. In retirement, he found new pleasure in playing cards, walking, reading and socializing. In many ways, Joe loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Joe fought Congestive Heart Failure and Diabetes for a number of years. He is survived by his loving wife, Helen, his children Peter (Virginia), Margaret, Jane, Eric, Gina (Jim), Thomas (Lynda) and Mary (Jim); his grandchildren, Brian (Stephanie), Brad (Rose), Betsy (David), Bob, Patrick, Erika (Tom) Kristen and Thomas; and his great grandchildren, Maddie, Sammie, Owen, Conner, Ethan and Ailey Kate. Services were held at Elzey Patterson Rodak Home For Funerals in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Joe was laid to rest in Hoverstock Cemetery in Zanesville, Indiana.

All who knew him would agree that Joe was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Joe Scott Bottorff did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.