James Malcolm Otts Jr.

James Malcolm Otts, Jr. was born May 9, 1920 in Shreveport, Louisiana and passed away October 26, 2010 in Georgetown, Texas. In his youth, Malcolm was so proud to have earned an Eagle Scout award with the Boy Scouts of America. He then went on to graduate from LSU with a degree in petroleum engineering and joined the ROTC program while in college. Malcolm began his active duty with the Army as a Platoon Leader directing and training engineers during combat in World War II. His platoon was responsible for constructing and repairing military bridges and roads, removing mines and other demolitions and the laying of mines. He received seven (7) campaign Stars for combat in Tunisia, Sicily (where he was also awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious work in road construction), Normandy, Rhineland (where also awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Germany), Ardennes, Central Europe (where also awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat in France) and North Africa along with an American Service medal and World War II Victory medal. Major Otts’ military service ended in 1946.

In July 1942, Malcolm met his lifelong love, Alma Hughes Harkness at a church dance (she did not want to attend) in Prince Frederick, Maryland. They were engaged within weeks. One month after returning home from the war in 1945 they were married and he began his 34 year career with Gulf Oil. They moved many times due to his assignments in Mississippi, Bakersfield, California, Oklahoma City, Pittsburg and Houston. Retirement took them back to Alma’s family farm in Maryland where they enjoyed many wonderful years of golfing, fishing and enjoying Maryland crabcakes! In 2000, Alma and Malcolm moved to Georgetown to be closer to their daughter, Sally and son Jim who lives in Midland.

Malcolm was a man of integrity. Everyone enjoyed his sense of humor, compassion, and genuine concern for others. He always tried to greet people by their name, even though in his later years he could only associate shapes with a voice. Being legally blind did not deter him from a golf game either, as long as someone would spot the ball for him. As one friend put it, “I never thought I’d get beat by a blind man. He put me to shame.”

Malcolm was preceded in death by his wife, Alma Hughes Harkness Otts on October 28, 2008.

Malcolm is survived by his sister, Elinor Hughes from Denton; Midland family: son James M. Otts, III with wife Nanci, granddaughter Kristi Smith with great grandchildren Emerson and Hudson, grandson James M. Otts, IV with great grandson James M. Otts, V; Bakersfield, Calif. family: granddaughter Jennifer Otts Ricommini with husband Steve and great grandchildren Zachary and Sarah, granddaughter Melissa Otts Hafeli with husband Gary and great grandchildren Garrett and Cassidy; Austin family: Sally Otts Griffiths with husband Donne, grandson Charles “C.J.” Crouchet, Jr. and granddaughter Beth Crouchet with great grandchildren Elija and Jayden.

Services will be held on Friday, November 19, 2010 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas at 11:00 am.

Donations in memory of Malcolm can be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Association or charity of choice.

Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.