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Submitted: 2/19/14 • Approved: 9/21/18 • Last Updated: 2/2/19 • R983010-G983010-S3
Robert Lester
Aug. 25, 1926 - Dec. 19, 1995
Patricia
Apr 3, 1928 - Sept 19, 2018
*Obituary
Robert L. Ott died at the age of 72 and was the
first person buried at Four Winds. His obituary, as it appeared in the Log Cabin
Democrat, read:
Developer Robert Ott, 72, dies.
Robert L. Ott, whose real estate
stratagems changed the face of the
landscape in Conway, died Saturday
(Dec. 19, 1998) at Conway Regional
Medical Center after a lengthy illness.
He was 72 years old.
Many of his business decisions
were spectacular in scope, as he
orchestrated the development of
shopping centers, apartment complexes
and other commercial buildings.
His thriving ventures in
insurance, land and an abstract
business were a measure of his
accomplishments. His depth of talent
and intelligence in matters of finance
seemed bottomless, his friends
maintain.
Many of them, who go back a
long way with Ott, were not surprised by
his successes. They knew him as a
brilliant student, a focused individual
who knew exactly what he wanted and
got it.
Ott was a master planner and his vision for the growth of Conway was acute and on
the mark. He was a real estate realist, perspicacious in the way he conducted a flourishing
and prosperous business and circumspect in his dealings. He was, friends say, quietly
purposeful and tied to his business. He had little time for diversion.
“A lot of people knew who he was, but really were not close to him,” says Frank
Robins, an old friend and former publisher of the Log Cabin Democrat. “Iknew him going
back to high school. He was content to be a loner, a quiet sort and greatly interested in
work.”
Another estimate came from Don Vogan of Conway, who recalls Ott as a “brilliant
fellow who made all A’s in school. He was the kind of fellow you knew would be successful
one day.”
Ott made his fortune the old-fashioned way, earning it, Vogan said. “He went to work
at a young age with the old Gus Bahner insurance and company of Conway and he later
bought the business. Hard work and determined effort were Ott’s hallmarks. He’d work 23
hours a day and he knew how to make money.”
Not many people knew about his nobility in giving, “but when you talked to institutions
and others, you got word of the depth of his
generosity,” says investor and farmer Bunny
Adcock of Conway, a long-time friend.
Ott had few outside interests. One was
his church and another was Four Winds Chapel
in west Conway on Prince Street, which he and
his wife, Pat, built, making it available for
weddings, small gatherings of a “spiritual nature”
or for funerals.
The New England-style chapel seats 40 to
50 people. It is built of white wood and has a
steeple which houses a bell that is a replica of
the bell Mrs. Ott used when she taught
kindergarten.
Mrs. Ott once said the pulpit in the chapel
is the one used in the old Robinson and Center
Church of Christ. The pews are from University Church of Christ.
“I sat near Mr. Ott for 15 years during his time as a member of the board of First
National Bank,” Adcock says, “and I worked for him in the insurance business in 1980. I had
the utmost respect for the man. His honesty and integrity were unquestioned.”
Adcock gives currency to the belief that Ott was responsible in good measure for the
development of Conway. “He was the first Realtor with a real vision for the city, and he saw
early where Conway was going. His leadership and vision were wonderful attributes.”
Ott also carved out a reputation for candor. “I never met a person who didn’t say that Ott
was fair and honest. To his credit, it was true.”
Minister Lendal Bolin and former minister Harold Thomas of University Church of Christ
painted Ott as a “loving and generous man who has been followed by good works,
straightforwardness and honesty.” As a leader in the church, Ott exerted influence, always
promoting unity and love. “And because of his faith, he was a living example of Christ-like
spirit,” Bolin says.
Thomas recalled that Ott was instrumental in the minister coming to Conway. “He was a
very generous contributor to the church, and I know that because I was a beneficiary of his
generosity. He was a wonderful family man and a faithful church member.”
Not surprisingly, in view of the seemingly universal regard Ott engendered, is Pam
McDowell’s comment that “I wished I had been a mouse in Bob Ott’s pocket to learn how he did
business. He was visionary and, you can say, without fear of contradiction that western
Conway wouldn’t be what it is today if it hadn’t been for Bob Ott,” says Ms. McDowell, owner of
Pam McDowell’s Properties and an old friend of the family and gracious competitor. “He has
forgotten more about real estate than I’ll ever know.”
Born August 28, 1926, in Conway, a son of James Roy and Louise (Scheibel) Ott, he
was also a World War II Navy veteran. Survivors are his wife, Patricia W. Ott; a son J. R. Ott of
Arlington, Texas; a daughter Joanna Rankin of Conway; a sister, Alleen Long of Santa Rose,
Calilfornia; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Unversity Church of Christ with Mr. Jim Bob
Baker and Mr. Harold Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Four Winds Cemetery by Roller-McNutt
Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Gene Salter, Jim Hambuchen, Kevin Watson, Tom Day, Tommy Huett
and Randy Sims.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Four Winds Chapel at Prince Street and Lee Andrew
Lane. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the National Kidney Foundation,
Southern Christian Home in Morrilton, Vera Loyd Presbyterian Home in Monticello (Drew County),
the American Diabetes Association or Florence Crittendon Home in Little Rock.
*argenweb.net/faulkner/sondra/FourWinds
Obituary
thecabin.net
Patricia W. Ott, 90, of Conway, went to be with The Lord on Wednesday, September 19, 2018. She was born April 3, 1928 in Grant County to the late James Rufus and Anna Hollingsworth Williams. Patricia was also preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Ott, one son, Jim Ott, sisters, Sybil Brown and Nancy Sipe, grandchild, Emily Elaine Ott, and nephew, Andy Ott.
Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Joanna Rankin (Jim), grandchildren, Adam Harrison, Cathy Ott, Andrew Ott, Axel Ott, and Lily Anna Ott and numerous nieces and nephews.
Patricia was a very active long-time member of Four Winds Church in Conway. She and her husband started Precept Ministries in Conway, she also taught bible study and was a member of P.E.O., the Conway Garden Club, and charter member of the Conway Civic League. She was also very involved with the Renewal Ranch. Patricia obtained a degree in Elementary Education at Arkansas State Teachers College and later was a Kindergarten teacher and owned Jack and Jill Kindergarten in Conway until 1961 when she became a stay at home mother and provider for her children, Joanna and Jim and wife to the love of her life Robert.
She dedicated her life to following her faith and helping others with their walk with God. Patricia never met a stranger and was always happy to approach anyone she thought was in need of prayer, no matter where they may be at the time
She rejoiced in feeding and watching her birds, but most of all she loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Conway Regional and staff and her caregiver, Amy Teaguns, who became her best friend. Patricia will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Visitation will be from 5pm to 7pm Friday, September 21th at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway. Funeral services will be held at 10am Saturday at Four Winds Church, 2005 Dave Ward Drive in Conway, with Randy Lewis, Jim Bob Baker, Robert Ott, James Loy, and Don Bingham officiating. A private family graveside will follow. Serving as pallbearers will be Adam Harrison, Andrew Ott, Axel Ott, Mark Ott, Robert Ott, and Drew Gainor.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Four Winds
Church, 2005 Dave Ward Drive, Conway, AR 72034 and Renewal Ranch, 75, Lake Drive, Houston, AR 72070. Online guest book: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/conway
Contributed on 2/19/14 by hawkinsdonna
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Record #: 983010