Arthur F. Otte

Arthur Frederick Otte was born May 6, 1906, in Toledo, Ohio. His parents, Edward H. Otte and Doris L. Schroeder Otte, were at the time living at 802 Stickney Avenue at the corner of Ontario. In 1907 they moved back to Ridgeville Corners, and lived in the first house west of the "Corners" on the south side of the Bryan Pike. About a year later, they moved to the house at the end of the sidewalk on the north side of the Defiance-Ridge Road, where they lived until they moved into their new house across the street. That was in 1910 or 1911. Arthur attended public school in Ridgeville through twelve grades, from 1912 to 1924. Summer vacations were to a great extent taken up by going to "Summer School" in the church basement.

The Arthur F. Otte Family: Arthur, Tekla, Karen, Doris and William Tomlin, Lois, Grace.

After high school, Arthur took a five-year program in mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati, graduating in 1929, and, at the same time, receiving a commission in the Army Ordnance Reserve. After that, from September, 1929, to June, 1969, he taught in Detroit at the Wilbur Wright High School and Technical Institute. He then went to teach in the newly formed Northwest Technical College, located about two miles west of Ridgeville Corners. He was there from September, 1969, until his retirement in June of 1974.

On August 15, 1950, Arthur married Tekla Agnes Loeber, born November 30, 1917, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Adolph H. A. Loeber, of Detroit, Michigan. They spent two weeks on a trip out west to the Rockies and then lived in an apartment on Lakewood in Detroit until they moved into their new house on about the third of April, 1951. This house is located at 16560 Vaughan in the Old Redford area of Detroit. Tekla attended Ives Elementary, Jackson Intermediate, and Southeastern High School, all in Detroit. She was graduated from Detroit Commercial College in 1935, and Wayne State University in 1946, and the University of Michigan in 1948. She taught in the Detroit Public Schools, Highland Park Junior College, and Grosse Pointe High School.

The children of Arthur and Tekla Otte are: Doris Ann, born June 30, 1951; Grace Tekla, born August 4, 1953; Karen Jane, born, October 13, 1954; and Lois Helene, born June 7, 1956. They all attended Sunday School at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, public school at Burt Elementary School and Redford High School, all located in the city of Detroit, Michigan. After high school, they all enrolled at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Doris was graduated as a physics major in December, 1973. Grace is studying medical technology, Karen's major is biology, and Lois is in a program in dental hygiene.

On January 1, 1974, Doris was married to William Tomlin, of Southfield, Michigan, who had graduated in mechanical engineering in the same class with Doris a few weeks earlier. They are both employed by Westinghouse, in the Advanced Reactor Division, located in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. They are living near Irwin, Pennsylvania.

Submitted by Arthur F. Otte