George E. Hotz

HOTZ George E. George E. Hotz, 83, passed away in his Grand Rapids, Ohio, home surrounded by family during the morning hours of May 23, 2006. He was preceded in death by his parents, George A. and Pearl E. Hotz and son, Robert "Bobby" E. Stall. George is survived by his wife, Gloria I. (Butler) Hotz; sons, John L. (Leslie) Stall, Lynn (Sherry) Hotz and George R. (Julia) Hotz; daughter, Susan (Jim) Waingrow; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Mark) Eggleston, John L. (Patty) Stall, Todd Ball, Heather Elliott, Con nor D. Hotz, Rhonda (Will) Shryock, Jill Jaksetic and Holly M. Waingrow; great-grand-children, Bradley and Emily Eggleston, Amanda Kern, Lindsey and Sean Stall, Ethan Shryock and Tank "Peanut" Waingrow. George served in the U.S. Army, 728th Railway Operation Battalion, from December 1942 until his honorable discharge in December 1945. While in the Army among several other medals, George received three Bronze Stars. He is a member of the Alva N. Sidle Post #232 American Legion and the V.F.W. Post #4984. Upon returning from WWII, George resumed work for the New York Central Railroad, retiring as an engineer in 1982. George and Gloria purchased their Grand Rapids farm in 1962. He enjoyed farming but retired from that in 1996. In the last few years of his life, George had many people who took care of him and became a part of his family. The family would like to give thanks to the employees at the Heartland of Waterville and Hospice of Northwest Ohio. The family sends a heart-filled "Thank You" to Rena Lewallen and Nathija Butler for caring for George which allowed him to fulfill his wish of being at home on his farm with family until his passing. Visitation will be from Noon until 3 and 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2006, at Wright Funeral Home in Grand Rapids, Ohio. The funeral will be on Friday, May 26, in the funeral home at 11 a.m. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio or the Neapolis Church of Christ.