Raymond Cyril Otwell III

Born in Decatur, Georgia, in 1963, Ray was oldest son of Raymond Cyril Otwell, Jr. and Anne Newsome Otwell. He grew up in DeKalb County, graduating from Lakeside High School in 1981, before leaving for college first at Young Harris College in North Georgia and then at West Georgia College in Carrolton, GA.

After being active in Scout Troop 77 at Oak Grove throughout his childhood and adolescence, Ray loved going to college in the north Georgia mountains, spending many days camping, hiking, and riding his ten speed up and down Blood Mountain and Brasstown Bald. These were among his happiest memories, and he spoke of them often throughout his life.

Ray went on to live in Savannah, GA and later Marietta, GA as an adult. He moved back to the Oak Grove neighborhood in Decatur, GA in 2005 where he lived for the remainder of his life.

Ray was always deeply curious. From an early age he wanted to learn how everything worked, why it worked the way it did, and how to fix it. His mother always said that as a child Ray would take apart his toys just to put them back together. He used this passion to become a certified auto mechanic and certified IT professional. Ray’s many childhood adventures are the reason his younger siblings were not allowed to have chemistry sets, ride their bikes outside of the Leafmore-Creek Park neighborhood, make campfires without an adult, or explore the train tracks that went through the area.

Ray was a very sweet, intelligent man who loved his mother and siblings, his many animals over the years (especially Snow the deaf cat and LadyBug the bearded half-Boston Terrier), and all the friends he made at different stages of his life. He was a lifelong reader and student who read calculus and physics books for fun. He participated in many of the early years of DragonCon; loved music and going to concerts; enjoyed target shooting; was fascinated by space and astronomy; loved eating at different restaurants and cooking many cuisines (the spicier the better); built computers for himself and his family; and taught himself small electronics, Japanese, woodworking, and many other skills. He used these skills to better the lives of his family, friends, and neighbors.

He enjoyed being helpful and of service to those he loved. He was very patient and skilled at teaching others. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge with his siblings and others he met throughout his life. He taught his sister how to drive a stick shift, jump the battery of the stick shift, rebuild a carburetor, use a drill, shoot a gun, and pass high school geometry.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his siblings: Jefferson Otwell and Elizabeth Otwell Holland; his brother-in-law Geoffrey Holland; beloved cousins, and a few dear friends.

Ray requested no funeral service. He will be buried at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Tucker alongside both of his parents.