Bernard Edward “Butch” Otte, 64, of Wheeling, WV, died Monday, June 8, 2015, at his home in Bethlehem. He was born February 21, 1951, in Wheeling, a son of the late Edward and Genevieve “Vickie” Otte.
He was a 1969 graduate of Wheeling High School and a 1973 graduate of West Liberty State College with a degree in education. He was also a graduate of the Nasco School of Business in Springfield, Tenn.
He began his business career as a five state district Sales Representative for Nasco Inc. He then took a job with Monarch Foods in the tri-state area, with Gatto Foods in Bellaire, OH, as a Sales Manager, and Continental Foods of Eighty Four, Pa. as a sales manager then vice president of sales.
He then became a Vice President of Sales Management for the Sysco Corp. Eastern Region, and account manager with Hasselman Food Brokerage of South Hills, Pa. He was also the sales manager for the Steubenville Fruit Company of Steubenville, OH for many years. He then retired from the food business and took over the family business, Otte Brothers Inc. (State Dry Cleaners), serving as president and chief financial and operating officer.
He was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Wheeling and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member and Officer in the Ohio Cleaners Association, and a member and ardent supporter of the Local YMCA.
Butch and his father, Edward, always appreciated their loyal customers and the employees of State Cleaners and also his loyal and longtime friends from the “YAC”.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, John Trischler; one nephew; Brian Trischler, and two uncles; Paul and Bernie Otte.
He is survived by two sons, Jason (Emily) Otte of Annapolis, Md., and Chad Otte of Morgantown, WV; ex-wife, Debbie Otte-Droginske; one uncle, William (Betty Jean) Otte of Wheeling; two aunts, Lucille Otte of Wheeling, and Lucille Fee of Omaha, NE; one niece, Molly Karcher of Bel Air, MD; one nephew, Patrick Trischler; two grandsons, Alexander Edward Otte and Sebastian Otte of Annapolis, MD; and special friends, Howard and Shirley Blazier of Bethlehem.
Butch was a successful businessman in both food service and dry cleaning, and was a compassionate father, grandfather, and friend.