William James "Bill" Ott

1932 - 2010

William James Ott

William James Ott, 78, of Redding, CA lost his short battle with liver cancer on
Wednesday, October 6, 2010. He died peacefully at home.

Known as "Bill" by all his friends and "Mr. Ott" to all the many students he taught.

Bill was born in Emporia, Kansas on May 8, 1932 to Lowell and Viva Ott. He grew up in Hamilton, Kansas with his younger sister, Mary Alice, by his side. He enjoyed swimming in the rivers and lakes and fishing on the banks. He also loved playing sports.
When Bill was 10 years old his family moved to Anderson, CA. His dad, Lowell, ran the local hardware store, Diamond National, and his mother, Viva, taught at Anderson Elementary School.

Bill attended Anderson Elementary School and then moved to Anderson High School. He was very active playing Baseball, Basketball and Football in High School. As a senior he was elected Student Body Vice President. As a sophomore he met the love of his life Frances Kraft. They were both attending a school clean up day at the High School. Bill's friend had to encourage Frances to go talk to Bill because he was too shy to make the first move. It came up that Frances' parents had a duck pond on their farm. Bill loved to hunt so this was just what he needed to get the conversation flowing. It wasn't too long before Bill showed up at the farm to hunt ducks, geese and Frances! Frances knew his first love was baseball and sportsman activities but she was hoping she could be a close second. They dated the rest of high school until Bill graduated in 1950.

Bill moved to Sacramento to attend Sacramento City College to take undergraduate classes and play baseball. He worked to pay for college and all those dates he was taking Frances on. He completed his undergraduate degree in the spring on 1952. That same spring he also figured he better ask Frances to be his lifelong partner. They were married March 15, 1952 in Sacramento.

In the fall of 1952 he moved to Sacramento State College (University) to complete his teaching degree and continue to play baseball. Later that year Bill and Frances had their first child William Thomas. He finished his teaching degree in the spring of 1954.

In the fall of 1954 he moved the family back to Anderson where he started his first teaching job at Anderson High School. He was hired as a P.E. teacher. He also helped coach the football team. His years teaching at Anderson High totaled 37. In those years he taught P.E., coached football, baseball and basketball. He also taught math until 1992, the year he retired.

In 1972 when Bill was 41 he decided he needed a new hobby so he and Frances moved to Shingletown to start a cattle ranch. He loved the quiet of the country and the ranch life. He lived there until November of 2008.

Bill loved to hunt and fish. His favorite vacation was a hunting trip to Alaska with his good friend, Dean Hinshaw. Up until he was too sick, his retirement days were often spent on the Sacramento River fishing.

Bill grew up going to church. He attended several churches in Anderson over the years and died a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Redding.

He is preceded in death by his parents Lowell and Viva Ott, his eldest son William Thomas Ott and foster daughter Patricia Elliott.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Frances Elizabeth (Kraft) Ott, Four children, Deborah Lynn Burnett (Stephen) of El Dorado Hills, CA, Stephen Lowell Ott (Gina) of Shingletown, CA, David Michael Ott of Redding, CA, Patricia Magdalene Peters (Jonathan) of Folsom, CA and one foster daughter Laura Clancy Hendrix of Missoula, MT.
He is also survived by his sister, Mary Alice McBride (Robert) of Orangevale, CA, Daughter in Law Deborah Leigh Ott, of Sacramento, CA, 19 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Viewing will be Friday, October 8, 2010 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lawncrest Memorial Chapel, 1522 E. Cypress Avenue, Redding, CA. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Anderson High School Boys Gym, 1469 Ferry Street, Anderson, CA. Interment will follow at Anderson Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please donate to the youth group at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2095 El Verano Street, Redding, CA 96002, or The Athletic Department at Anderson Union High School,
1469 Ferry Street, Anderson, CA 96007.

Please sign the guestbook at http://obituaries.redding.com