A Barnard Resident's Story...The Obituary of Otto Saunders

A town's story can be told through the obituaries of its residents...

Otto Saunders

Otto Saunders was born July 29, 1899, in Lincoln to Flint and Elizabeth (O'Neill) Saunders and passed away on Feb. 24, 1983, at the Ottawa County Hospital, Minneapolis, at the age of 83 years, six months, and 26 days.

Ott and Eva Loy were united in marriage Sept. 25, 1921 and this union was blessed with five children.  They lived most of their life in Barnard and celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary last September.

Ott and Eva had an ice business for many years, and in the late '40s, he became a city councilman for Barnard, and a year later, became city marshal.  Ott was also Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff until his death, and was both fire chief and water and sewer superintendent for Barnard.  Ott helped build the water tower, sewer, and dike and retired a year ago after 35 years of service to the city.

Ott and Eva both enjoyed fishing and he loved fishing from the boar especially.  He would go out and get crawdads when he could hardly walk, just to have on hand in case someone came along wanteing to go fishing.  He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and when any of them came into town they would argue over who saw Grandpa's water tower first and still think it is Grandpa's.

Ott is survived by his wife Eva, of the home; five children:  Dale of Salina, Pete of Minneapolis, Beth (Mrs. Leroy Holcom) of Gypsum, Jerry of Dodge City, and Peggy (Mrs. Norris Herbel) of Barnard; four brothers, Melvin, Colton, Calif.; Alfred, McPherson; Ludwell, Yucaipa, Calif.; and Donald, San Bernadino, Calif.; two sisters, Mrs. Ethel Smith, Salina, and Mrs. Helen Crawford, Derby; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services were held Feb. 26, 1983, at the Hall Memorial Chapel.  Burial was in the Milo Cemetery, Barnard.


From:

Lincoln Sentinel-Republican, 17 March 1983
Lincoln County Historical Society Obituary Archive