Otis H. Needle

In memory of a beloved husband, father and grandfather... Truly a gentle man of strength and integrity. His friendly, intuitive and competent ways were always generously available to everyone. Otis enfolded and protected others with his thoughtful nature and loving spirit. He always looked to the best in others and set a great example for us all. A dedicated family man and a precious soul has moved on...It is hard to imagine life without his heartwarming glances of approval and twinkling eyes.

Otis H. Needle was born in Houvelton, N.Y in 1924 and graduated from Gouverneur, H.S. in 1943. Immediately after graduation, he enlisted in the service where he served as an Instructor in all phases of Army Combat Training for a period of three years during WW2.

Otis received a B.S in Physical Education, followed by an M.S. Ed. degree from Syracuse University in 1952. With a sincere passion for helping young people, he spent his entire professional career as an educator. Starting in 1951, as a Physical Education teacher for the DeRuyter Central School District, Otis went on to hold various other positions of educational employment in New York State. He was Chief School Administrator for Georgetown Central School, Superintendent of Schools for the Bainbridge-Guilford Central School District., Acting Superintendent for the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District, Director of Curriculum Enrichment at D.C.M.O BOCES, and he eventually retired from his position as Dean of Continuing Education for the State University of New York @ Delhi in 1980.

Once retired to Stuart, Florida, Otis and his wife Mary enjoyed working together part time along the beautiful Atlantic coast at the exclusive “Jupiter Island Club”. They lived there for 30 years and continued to spend all of their post-retirement summers close to relatives at their family built cottage on Chenango Lake in Norwich, NY.

In 2010 Otis and his wife moved from Jupiter Island, Fla. to Mesa, AZ in order to be closer to Arizona family members during the winter months.

Otis leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Mary C. Needle of Mesa, AZ; a son, Olin ( wife-Terri ) Needle of Chicago Il and three daughters: Karen (husband-Paul) Casey of Guilford, N.Y., Denise Needle, of Syracuse, N.Y., Pam (husband- John) Buck of Mesa, AZ; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Otis is predeceased by his brother Douglas Needle of Okeechobee, Fla., leaving behind his beloved sister-in-law Lucille Needle of Stuart, Fla.. and his two brothers, Bruce (wife-Mathilda) Needle of North Syracuse, N.Y., and Dean (wife-Kathleen) Needle of East Syracuse, N.Y.

A family memorial service was held in Arizona at the home of Otis's grandson on Saturday August 16th at 4:00pm.

If friends desire, donations may be made to:

Parkinson's Disease Foundation in Memory of: Otis H. Needle

Acknowledgee: Mary Needle, 6730 E Preston Street # 50 Mesa AZ 85215

Youtube link to "In memory of Slide Show":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYagLaLf9XI