DONALD L. BOTTORFF, 88, of Fort Myers, Florida went home to Jesus, August 21, 2014 at his home in Fort Myers. Born September 3, 1925 in Clarksville, Indiana, he was the fifth and youngest son of the late Walter and Verna Bottorff. Donald was a veteran of World War II, joining the U.S. Navy right…
Continue ReadingDONALD L. BOTTORFF, 88, of Fort Myers, Florida went home to Jesus, August 21, 2014 at his home in Fort Myers.
Born September 3, 1925 in Clarksville, Indiana, he was the fifth and youngest son of the late Walter and Verna Bottorff. Donald was a veteran of World War II, joining the U.S. Navy right out of high school and served as a second class radioman under Admiral Hall. Prior to his move to Fort Myers, where he was hired to run the Lee County Chamber of Commerce, he served as Executive Director of the Clark County Chamber of Commerce of Jeffersonville, Indiana for six years.
While serving for twenty-five years as Executive Director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce, which later became the Metropolitan Fort Myers Chamber, he also ran the Fort Myers Tourist Center, Hall of Fifty States and the Exhibition Hall for the City of Fort Myers. Following his Chamber retirement he served on the planning committee for Harborside Event Center and later became the first Executive Manager.
During the years of planning annual meetings for the Chamber some of his favorite speakers were Marvin Kalb, Barry Goldwater, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, Norman Vincent Peale and Neil Armstrong. Some of his favorite Celebrity Series stars were Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Carol Channing, Celeste Holmes, Frank Fontaine and Willie Nelson.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Fran; six children, Stephen J. (Mary Carol) Bottorff, Candice Bottorff, Kevin (Barbara) Bottorff, Emory (Karen) Bottorff, Jennifer (William) McKenzie and Matthew (Jennifer) Bottorff; eight grandchildren, Adam and Sean Bottorff, Christian and Brian Lee Bottorff, Wills and Elle McKenzie, Logan and Wyatt Bottorff; three great grandchildren; Connor, Annabelle, and Zayne Bottorff; five nephews, Gary (Pat) Bottorff, Tom (Lucy) Bottorff, Dennis (Jean) Bottorff, Gene (Gaye) Bottorff and David (Penny) Bottorff.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday 1:00 PM, August 30, 2014 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 2625 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church or Hope Hospice of Fort Myers www.hopehospice.org
Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel. Friends may visit online a www.robersonfh.com to sign the memory book and extend condolences to the family.
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Judy Ezell
left a message on August 30, 2014:
Martha T. Williams
left a message on August 29, 2014:
Bruce Strayhorn
left a message on August 28, 2014:
Dot Orthman
left a message on August 28, 2014:
Marcus Brady
left a message on August 26, 2014:
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