Frank C. Ott

Frank C. Ott, age 83, of Savannah Branch Road, Remington, Va., died peacefully at his residence on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008. He was a devoted husband, loving father, and lifelong farmer.

Frank Campbell Ott was horn on Nov. 6, 1924, at Marshfield Farms, his family homeplace. He was the oldest son and second child born to Morgan Beard and Lucy Clopton Ott. He was a 1943 graduate of Remington High School.

He always loved farming. In 1942, he was awarded the Virginia State Farmer Degree from the National Future Farmers of America. In 1944, he was awarded the National FFA's highest honor bestowed, the American Farmer Award at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

From 1921-1988, his family shipped milk with the Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers Association, and in 1971, the family was recognized with a 50-year plaque for continuous milk shipment. Mr. Ott was active in 4-H and showed cattle and became a lifetime member of the 4-H All-Stars in 1944. In 1988, when his wife was diagnosed with cancer, Mr. Ott sold all of his dairy cows, but started a hay and beef partnership with his son, Frank C. Ott Jr.

On October 17, 1955, he married Miss Florence Estelle Conway of Nantucket Island, Mass. They were married in the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and were happily married for over 40 years, until Mrs. Ott's death on June 21, 2000.

Mr. Ott always had a sunny outlook and a smile with a twinkle in his eye. He loved people and was passionate about preserving the rights and freedoms that our forefathers fought so hard for. He attended many county hearings and budget meetings, and to the delight of his audience, he always tried to provide a humorous antidote to whatever he was opposing or supporting. Former Fauquier Supervisor David Botts once said that he always looked forward to Frank Ott's speeches and didn't think they could have a public hearing without him. His two favorite poems that he recited were "Down on the Farm" and "Little Boy Blue." He learned both poems in Mr. Jenkins' agriculture classes in the 1930s but continued to remember every word all of his life. He recited "Down on the Farm" at the Father-Son FFA Agriculture Banquet in 1939.

In his later years, if you couldn't find Frank around the farm, he was out visiting his neighbors, maybe bringing them a treat of fresh apples or peaches from the mountains. He always enjoyed visits from his friends and family, especially the delicious food everyone was so kind to send to him. He appreciated all the extra help on the farm from his nephew, James M. (Bubby) Fowler, who visited each weekend from Maryland.

Mr. Ott is survived by three children: Anne Kimberly Ott, Remington, Martha Ott Garmon, (husband Warren) Centreville, and Frank C. Ott Jr. (wife Janet) Remington, Va. He is also survived by grandsons: Frank Warren Garmon Jr., Jeff Whitten Garmon, Andrew Wyeth Garmon, Daniel Walton Garmon, and John William Ott Garmon, all of Centreville, Va. Also survived by step-grandchildren: Chad Heflin and Brady Deal of Dinwiddie, Va., and Hunter, Katy Mae, and Tucker Barnes of Remington. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Janet Coffin and a brother-in-law, Bushy Conway, both of Nantucket, Mass. He is also survived by nephews James M. Fowler, Dr. A.G. Steiner Jr. and Jay Steiner, Ronald Conway, Bobby Conway, Dr. Laurence Conway, Stephen Coffin and nieces Lois Connor, Judy Davis, Marjorie Rice, and Arlien Steiner, Lynn Brendemuehl, Pam Coffin, Lisa Conway and Jane Conway.

Mr. Ott was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Florence C. Ott, and sisters Nancy C. Steiner and husband Art, and Phyllis K. Fowler and husband Buddy, and a brother, Morgan B. Ott Jr. and wife Helen. Twin infant sisters, Marjorie Walden Ott and Mary Isham Ott died in 1933.

The family will receive friends from to 3-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. on Friday.

Funeral services for Mr. Ott will be conducted by the Reverend Peyton Embrey and held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Moser Funeral Home, Warrenton, Va. Interment will be immediately following the service in the family plot at Remington Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to join the family for lunch at St. Luke's Episcopal Church Hall, Remington.

Pallbearers will be nephews James M. Fowler, Dr. Butch Steiner, and Jay Steiner and neighbors Roy Thorn, Robert Jacobs, Claude Chapman, John Gouldthorpe, and Paul Neale. Honorary pallbearers will be Maxwell Bowen, Robert Taylor, Frank, Jeff, Andrew, Daniel, and John Garmon, Chad Heflin, Hunter Barnes, and Tucker Barnes.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Remington Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad, PO Box 159, Remington VA 22734; or the Lois Volunteer Fire & Rescue, PO Box 137, Bealeton VA 22712.

(PAID OBITUARY)