Otis Washington Sr.

Obituary

Otis Riley Washington Sr., was born on May 10th 1931 in Alcoa Tennessee. He was the fourth of four sons born to William Bertram Washington and Ophelia Douglas.  His brothers were James Bertram, Luther Cordell, and Carl Vincent Washington, all who have preceded him in death.  The family shortly thereafter moved to Ouachita County, Arkansas.  After the death of Ophelia, his dad moved to Detroit, Michigan to find work as part of the “Great Migration” before the start of the 2nd world war.  The four brothers lived with their grandparents and other loving relatives in Arkansas.  He and some of his brothers worked as caddies at a local golf course. The four brothers joined their dad in Detroit when he was nine years old.  They moved with their father to the Black Bottom area of Detroit where they were surrounded by a loving family and community.  It should be noted that the influence of their family and father was responsible for raising the four boys, all of whom passed on the value of family, religion and education to their children. Otis attended Durfee Middle School and Pershing High School. The family settled into the Sojourner Truth Housing project.  Otis was particularly interested in planes and flying, building model planes, yet never able to realize his dreams of being a pilot.  He followed his brothers to Wayne State University and studied accounting, where in 1951 he pledged Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc.  After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, where he served overseas from 1952-1954.  In 1955 he married Clara Fay Miller.  Three children were born to that union: Otis Jr., Ondrea Joi, and David Owen.  They did divorce in 1968, and in 1977 his second daughter was born Bianca Denise to him and Evelyn Boggerty.  Otis worked with Richard Austin’s CPA firm in Detroit, which prepared him for successfully passing the CPA exam.  He later worked for the City of Detroit, and stayed there until he retired.  He enjoyed winter sports skiing and ice skating, and also roller skating with his children.  He was also known for riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and enjoyed taking his kids for rides around Detroit. He was a member of the Anglican church for many years until his health failed.  Throughout his life he enjoyed fixing things around the house and cars as well.  Many a cold winter night was spent with his children on the cold garage floor fixing one thing or another under or around cars.  He was a good father, and education was very important to him, and it shows with all of his children completing their college degrees and finding their way in the world in their chosen professions.  He always asked how his grandchildren were doing in school and what they were studying in later years when he couldn’t get out to see them.  Ondrea Joi Washington his first daughter passed earlier this year, so Otis leaves to celebrate his life, three of his children Otis Jr., David(wife Tracy Wormworth), and Bianca(husband Wayne); grandchildren, Jordan, Derron Davis, Austen, Autumn, Danielle Denise, and Caleb Washington. Nieces Elaine, Valerie, Kathy, Lauri, and Kimberly, nephews Carl, James, Philip; and many other family members and friends.

His love, mentoring, and support will be deeply missed

Interment:

Detroit Memorial Park-East

Warren, Michigan