James Ottinger

SIKESTON - James D. Ottinger, 72, died at 12:10 a.m. May 19, 2002, at the John J. Pershing Veterans Administration Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.

Born Jan. 14, 1930, in Friendship, Tenn., son of the late Ivan A. and Bessie M. Higer Ottinger, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of Murray Lane Baptist Church. He had been employed by the Ford Motor Company in St. Louis and Parker Brothers Farms in Matthews before retiring.

On March 5, 1954, in Mississippi, he married Betty Flanagan who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: two sons, David Ottinger of Bell City and Donald Ottinger of Sikeston; one daughter, Marla Sprouse of Steele; two brothers, Donald Joe Ottinger of Sikeston and Paul Ottinger of Farmington; and eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

One son, five brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, where services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Kelley Grubbs, pastor of Murray Lane Baptist Church, will officiate.

The Missouri Military Funeral Honors Guard will conduct military graveside rites at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Ronnie Sprouse, Steve Lentz, Barry Grissom, Blake Ottinger, Dave Alcorn and Bobby Pennington.