David Claude Ott

David Claude Ott, 69, of Alexandria, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at his home on Little Peace of Heaven Farm. He was born July 1, 1954 in Mt. Sterling, Ohio to the late Jack and Jane Ott. David is survived by his beloved wife of 18 years, Christine Ott; children Steven Ott, Jessica Ott, Sarah Steinhauser, and Angela (Ryan) Thornton; grandchildren, Colin, Caleb, Brayden, Breckin, Berlynn, Banyen, Lauren, and Thomas; many nieces and nephews; and a host of other family, friends, and loved ones. In addition to his parents, David is preceded in passing by his siblings, Michael Ott, Steven Ott, and Susan Watson.

David may have left us too soon, but there is no doubt the life he lived was full of special achievements, love, joy, and excitement. If you ever met David, even just once, you would never forget him. He was truly one of a kind. David was a man who wore many hats (literally and figuratively), and was most known for being a machinist by trade and for his love of farming.

During his time as a machinist, he worked for Schuler Tool and Die, Rockwell Boeing, and finished his career with 25 years at Honda of America. Over the years, he crafted parts for the Space Shuttles, Apache helicopters, MX Missiles, but his most favorite of all was working on the B-1 Bomber. When he was in his mid-30’s, he attended college to further his education and was extremely proud to receive a certification in Computer-Aided Design.

David felt blessed to have the opportunity to own Little Peace of Heaven Farm. He spent several years filling the fields and barns with his beloved animals just like his grandfather did, which included chickens, goats, bees, sheep, horses, turkeys, geese, cats, fish, cattle, several German Shepards, and his loyal cattle dog Muhwaywa, who always stood by his side. He loved growing a plethora of fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, plants, flowers, and even grapes (so he could make his own wine!). He enjoyed spending his days building fences, working the hay, tinkering with tractors, and feeding animals. We know he will miss sitting on his patio overlooking the farm and taking in the most gorgeous sunsets that country life can offer, while drinking a cold Mich Ultra.

David had many other interests and hobbies, such as music, hunting, fishing, bird watching, geology, astronomy, and motorcycles. He spent 39 years as a member of the Hocking Valley Motorcycle Club. He dedicated many weekends in Hocking Valley supporting enduros, hare scrambles, and more alongside his club friends. He was drawn to anything space, earth, or nature-related. He was an avid collector of rocks, minerals, and fossils. He was looking forward to seeing the solar eclipse and now he has the best seat in the house from heaven.

Most of all, David cherished his family and was a devoted husband, brother, uncle, father, and grandfather. To say that David cared deeply for his family was an understatement. He valued his family to the moon and back and felt they were the greatest gift he ever received from God. He was happiest when he was with his family and he showed us his love every day.

Without David, life will never be the same. He was often regarded for his goofiness, but he never missed an opportunity to share his old-world knowledge and encouraging advice. He had a never-ending arsenal of “Ott”-isms, such as “Fins are Up!”, “O’ Whadda Hoot!”, and “If you Rest, you Rust!

Family and friends may call from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. with a service to begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Crouse-Kauber-Fraley Funeral Home, 225 N. Main St., Johnstown, OH 43031, with Pastor Kevin Hull officiating. Burial is to immediately follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Alexandria.

In lieu of flowers, donations can made to Yellowstone National Park to honor David’s favorite National Park or to C-Tech Student Assistance Fund (Career &Technology Education Centers) to support his love for trade school.