| Harvey B. Otterman Jr. |
Published in The Burlington Free Press on January 5, 2012
WEST TOPSHAM - Harvey B. "Bud" Otterman
Jr., 85, of West Topsham, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2012.
He passed away while working in the field at the home
of his wife Phyllis Ellis. He was an active man who
enjoyed hard work his entire life.
He was born Feb. 18, 1926, in Washington D.C.,
the eldest child of Harvey B. Otterman Sr. and Pearl
Catherine (Hatch) Otterman. He spent his early years
in the District of Columbia, graduating from Woodrow
Wilson High School in 1943. He joined the Navy in May of 1943 and
completed flight training on Feb. 13, 1946, at the age of 19, making him one
of the youngest Navy pilots ever. He flew the SBD Dauntless dive bomber.
Following his service in the Navy, he attended George Washington
University and received his law degree in 1950. He opened his law office in
Bradford on Jan. 2, 1951. This began a 50 year career as a lawyer. During
his years of practice he was regarded by his clients and the other members
of the bar as a skillful attorney, a man of integrity and a true gentleman.
He served as Orange County State's Attorney from 1952 to 1958. He
was a member of the Vermont Bar Association and served a term as its
President. He also served a term as President of the New England Bar
Association. He served the profession in a variety of capacities including as
Chairman of the Professional Conduct Board. Following his retirement from
the practice of law he served eight years in the House of Representatives
and, for a time as Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
He was civic minded and served the community in many capacities over
his lifetime. He was an avid supporter of youth sports and devoted many
hours to coaching baseball in the Topsham/Corinth area and hockey in
Barre. He was a positive influence on many young athletes.
He was married to Doris Clark on Dec. 27, 1949. She passed away on
Jan. 27, 2008. He married Joanna "Phyllis" Ellis on Dec. 27, 2010, who
survives him. He is also survived his sister, Catherine Peixotto and her
husband, Roland Peixotto, of Falmouth, Maine; three sons, Stephen
Otterman and his wife, Maureen, of West Topsham, David Otterman and
his wife, Karen, of Orange, and Thomas Otterman and his wife, Donna, of
West Topsham; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was a
kind and generous man, a loving husband, father, grandfather and
great-grandfather.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at 2 p.m. in the
East Orange Church with Pastor Candace Ricker officiating.
Visiting hours will be held Friday evening, Jan. 6, 2012, from 6 to 8
p.m. at Hale Funeral Home, Upper Plain, Bradford.
Burial will be held in the spring in the family lot in the West Topsham
Cemetery.
To view an online guest book go to www.halefuneralhomes.com In lieu
of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the East Orange
Church, c/o Donna Otterman, P.O. Box 44, East Orange Road, West
Topsham, VT 05086.
WEST TOPSHAM - Harvey B. "Bud" Otterman
Jr., 85, of West Topsham, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2012.
He passed away while working in the field at the home
of his wife Phyllis Ellis. He was an active man who
enjoyed hard work his entire life.
He was born Feb. 18, 1926, in Washington D.C.,
the eldest child of Harvey B. Otterman Sr. and Pearl
Catherine (Hatch) Otterman. He spent his early years
in the District of Columbia, graduating from Woodrow
Wilson High School in 1943. He joined the Navy in May of 1943 and
completed flight training on Feb. 13, 1946, at the age of 19, making him one
of the youngest Navy pilots ever. He flew the SBD Dauntless dive bomber.
Following his service in the Navy, he attended George Washington
University and received his law degree in 1950. He opened his law office in
Bradford on Jan. 2, 1951. This began a 50 year career as a lawyer. During
his years of practice he was regarded by his clients and the other members
of the bar as a skillful attorney, a man of integrity and a true gentleman.
He served as Orange County State's Attorney from 1952 to 1958. He
was a member of the Vermont Bar Association and served a term as its
President. He also served a term as President of the New England Bar
Association. He served the profession in a variety of capacities including as
Chairman of the Professional Conduct Board. Following his retirement from
the practice of law he served eight years in the House of Representatives
and, for a time as Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
He was civic minded and served the community in many capacities over
his lifetime. He was an avid supporter of youth sports and devoted many
hours to coaching baseball in the Topsham/Corinth area and hockey in
Barre. He was a positive influence on many young athletes.
He was married to Doris Clark on Dec. 27, 1949. She passed away on
Jan. 27, 2008. He married Joanna "Phyllis" Ellis on Dec. 27, 2010, who
survives him. He is also survived his sister, Catherine Peixotto and her
husband, Roland Peixotto, of Falmouth, Maine; three sons, Stephen
Otterman and his wife, Maureen, of West Topsham, David Otterman and
his wife, Karen, of Orange, and Thomas Otterman and his wife, Donna, of
West Topsham; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was a
kind and generous man, a loving husband, father, grandfather and
great-grandfather.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at 2 p.m. in the
East Orange Church with Pastor Candace Ricker officiating.
Visiting hours will be held Friday evening, Jan. 6, 2012, from 6 to 8
p.m. at Hale Funeral Home, Upper Plain, Bradford.
Burial will be held in the spring in the family lot in the West Topsham
Cemetery.
To view an online guest book go to www.halefuneralhomes.com In lieu
of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the East Orange
Church, c/o Donna Otterman, P.O. Box 44, East Orange Road, West
Topsham, VT 05086.
| HARVEY B. "BUD" OTTERMAN JR. |