Ludwig Otto

Dr./Rev. Ludwig Otto passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, with his wife by his side.

Ludwig was born to Ludwig Otto and Anna Virginia Messina Otto on March 15, 1934, in Manhattan, New York.

After attending New York public schools, Ludwig earned a living by professionally boxing and prize fighting. He was 53-1 during his boxing and prize fighting career, including earning the 1951 “Golden Gloves Champion” title in New York State as a light heavyweight.

Ludwig was a well-educated man. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from The City University of New York, a Bachelor of Laws from Blackstone School of Law in Chicago; a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; a Master of Liberal Arts from Southern Methodist University; a Master of English from The University of Dallas; and a Doctorate of English from LeTourneau University.

After serving as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army, Ludwig worked as a computer salesman in Dayton, Ohio. He later opened one of United States’ first computer training schools in Houston, Texas. Ludwig gave his life to Christ in 1974; in 1975, he walked away from the corporate world to go into full-time Christian ministry. As an ordained Baptist Minister, he pastored churches in Fort Worth, Euless, and Amarillo, Texas. After retiring from the ministry, Ludwig worked selling insurance, and then took up teaching at local colleges where he became a tenured English Professor for both LeTourneau University and Tarrant County College.

Ludwig enjoyed spending time with his wife, Maxine. Ludwig and Maxine enjoyed traveling, site-seeing, officiating weddings, attending church services, leading Bible studies, working with international Bible students, and eating at new restaurants. Ludwig loved sharing his faith and leading others to a personal relationship with the Lord.

Ludwig was preceded in death by his father Ludwig Otto, his mother Anna Virginia Messina Otto, and his brothers Walter Otto and Paul Otto.

Surviving relatives include: his wife of 25 years, Maxine Zimmerman Knight-Otto; his four children: daughter Kathy Hoffman and her husband Bob, daughter Molly Miller, son Ryan Otto and his wife Staci, son Matthew Otto and his wife Carly; his seven grandchildren: Ezra Hoffman, Jonathan Shirley, Jeffrey Shirley, Reilly Otto, Finley Otto, Elliot Otto, and Jakob Otto; his sister Dorothy Corbin and her husband Mark; his four nieces; and, his great and great-great nieces and nephews.

A “Celebration of Life” gathering for the family will be held in mid-March.