GALVESTON, Texas

John W. Otte, 89, of Galveston, Texas, passed away Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, at his residence.

Born Oct. 12, 1926, in Waymansville, he was the son of Omer and Mabel Otte. John married Ellen Clift in 1980, and she survives.

John joined the U.S. Army Air Force Band and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater during World War II after graduating from high school. After his honorable discharge in 1946, John attended Indiana University and graduated from Butler University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and advertising. He returned to Seymour and opened Johnny O’s Music Store. He later moved to Jasper to join the Kimball Piano and Organ Co., where he rose to vice president of sales before his retirement in 1985.

In 1980, John and his wife moved to Galveston, Texas, where he enjoyed golfing at Galveston Country Club, the Monday Breakfast Club with friends and the BT Dinner Group. He also served on the board of directors for Municipal Utility District No. 1 for several years.

Besides his wife of 36 years, John’s family includes daughters, Dr. Nancy Otte of Jasper and Julie (Dave) Wedean of Sandy Springs, Georgia; son, John R. “Chip” (Becky) Otte of Brownsburg; grandchildren, Ashton and Ethan Otte of Brownsburg; sisters, Treva Stahl of Seymour, who recently passed away, and Patricia Harris of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; brother-in-law, Bill Clift of Zionsville; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lutheran Community Home in Seymour. A reception will follow the service.