James Karl Otto, Sr.

July 22, 2014

James Karl Otto, Sr. was born at the old Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola,March 17th, 1932, and Otto wanted everyone to know that life was a heck of a ride.

Mr. Otto studied for the Florida State Boards and received his registered real estate license at the age of 21 years. He worked 10 years for I.J. Johnson Realtor and another 10 years for Walter Dean of Warrington Home Builders. In 1950 he married his friend, lover and soul mate Arlene G. Kressler, they were both just teenagers.

James was raised in Pensacola and moved to the Barrineau Park community where he resided with Arlene until 1991. Together they raised five wonderful children who all attended the little three-room school house in Barrineau Park.

James retired from real estate after a 20 year tenure to accept a deputy sheriff’s commission from William E. Bill Davis of Escambia County and had 12 ½ years vested in the Sheriff’s Department serving at the pleasure of both Sheriff Davis and Sheriff Untreiner. During Deputy Otto’s tenure with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, he served as defensive driving instructor for the National Safety Council, police instructor at then PJC, director of the Junior Deputies League, vice chairman of safety services for first aid and chairman of disaster action teams for the Pensacola Chapter of the American National Red Cross. He was awarded the humanitarian medal and the award of merit by the Red Cross.

James and Arlene moved to the Chumuckla Community in north Santa Rosa County in 2000 to enjoy the quiet life. Deputy Otto was a 20 year law enforcement member of the Florida Sheriff’s Association and National Sheriff’s Association. Otto was certified by the National Rifle Association as range safety officer and firearm instructor and served from 1992 until the time of his death.

Honorary pallbearers will be Walter F. Biggs, Rick Rankin, Greg Lewis, Jim Pennington, Johnny T. Redding, Jr., Fred Smith and Roberta Brown.

Active pallbearers will be Ron Sterling, Scott Steadman, Kurtis Smith, Kenny Smith, Kevin Smith, Chad Jones, Luke Overstreet, Jeff Simpson and Clifton Overstreet.

James was preceded in death by his mother, Allie G. Otto and father Fritz Karl Otto, his first born and oldest son, Fritz Karl Otto, II and great grandson, Tyler Wages.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Arlene; his daughters, Georgia (Harvey) Smith and Debra (Bill); sons, James K. (Angela) Otto, Jr. and Erich (Sue) Otto; sister, Anita (Allan) Geiger; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., services at 11 a.m. with burial following in the Historic St. John’s Cemetery with McGuire’s Bagpipe Band Playing at graveside.

Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 S. Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries