BOTT
John H., 89, husband of Roselyn (Bennett), died Monday, September 30, 2013, at his residence in Tifton, GA. Mr. Bott was born in Kinnelon, NJ on March 1, 1924, to the late Walter H. and Elizabeth Sickles Bott. He served as a carpenter apprentice under John F. Ricker before entering the United States Army. Mr. Bott was a World War II veteran, a Purple Heart recipient and was awarded the Silver Service Star, French Croix De Guerre with Bronze Star, Belgian Croix De Guerre with Palm, and the Distinguished Service Metal during his service. After his time in the military, he worked in residential construction until 1970. Mr. Bott was a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Local # 620 in Madison, NJ for forty-one years. He was also a member of the Kinnelon Volunteer Fire Department, Exempt Firemen's Association, a charter and life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, LA, and the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Chapter # 54 in NJ. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church in Tifton, GA.
John was a big man, with a personality that was larger than life and a force to be reckoned with. He had a hearty laugh, big smile, and eyes that captivated. You knew when he walked into a room. He appreciated a good joke, whether he was on the giving, or receiving end of it. He didn't always like to talk about his time in the service but once he started, it was as if you were next to him in his bulldozer at Utah Beach as the doors of the landing craft were opened, or outside that wine shop in Valognes, France as he pried the front gate of it so the boys could have a drink. He could teach any man willing to learn how to swing a hammer, properly use a miter saw or pour the foundation of a house, but had little patience for laziness or hypocrisy. He believed in working hard and saving for a rainy day. He worked until the doctors told him "no more". John was a loyal man, trustworthy, and honorable. He believed in doing the right thing, and doing right by others. He loved his family, in the best way a man of his generation could express; but, that came more freely as time wore on. He loved his sweetheart Roselyn more than anything else. It was for her that he cared most about, that he thought most about, and would go anywhere for. John was one-of-a-kind, and will be missed by every person who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Roselyn Bennett Bott of Tifton, GA; daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Charles Bellanca of Edison, NJ, and daughter, Wendy Gausten of Hebron, IN; stepson, Brian Porter of Tifton, GA; stepdaughters, Arlene Bailey of Tifton, GA, and Ethel Simmons of Odgensburg, NJ; grandchildren, Gina Bellanca, Lesley Bellanca, Cindy and Wayne Bellew, Dawn and Ken Marchant, Casey Porter, Jason Gausten, and Joel Gausten; great-grandchildren, Andy Oliver, Brad Oliver, Blake Marchant, and Brady Marchant; and his sister, Ruth E. Bott of Ulster Park, NY. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers and five sisters.
Visitation will be on Friday, October 4, 2013 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 11 AM at Richards Funeral Home, 4 Newark Pompton Tpke, Riverdale, NJ. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Tift Area, P.O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793. www.richardsfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
Uncle John you will be GREATLY missed, we had a great time visiting with Uncle John in June along with his sister and my Aunt Ruth. Aunt Rose and Arlene you people were troopers taking care of him, along with the Hospice personel. Our condolences and our heart goes out to the whole family. Nephew and Niece-in-law Walter and Marianne Bott
Walter Bott III
October 3, 2013
I didn't think it could happen. John always seemed larger than life. He will be missed by many. God bless you John.
Art & Ro Zazzi
October 2, 2013
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