Ottis L. Spigelmyer

Ottis Leroy Spigelmyer, Jr. (Butch) passed away on Monday, June 17, 2024. Butch was born 8/22/1943 to Ottis Spigelmyer, Sr. and Elsie Spigelmyer. He grew up in Mifflintown, Juniata County. He helped out on his grandparent’s farm butchering (how he got his nickname). Butch loved the outdoors and learned to hunt and fish with his father, grandfather and brother, Rick. This developed into a life-long passion for gun collecting, hunting, and fishing that he shared with his family and friends.

Butch graduated from Juniata Joint High School in 1961 and married his high school sweetheart Carol (Sheesley) Spigelmyer, sharing a devoted love and wonderful life for 63 years. He graduated from Humboldt Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he learned the trade of transportation. He acquired his first job with the Trailways Bus Company in Harrisburg, where he and Carol lived for two years. This led him to his next job as Manager of the Trailways Bus Company in the Franklin Street Station in Reading. In the years that followed, he became an independent contractor for Trailways, managing the bus terminal at 3rd and Court Street in Reading, where he worked for 40 years as they made their home in the Oley Valley area. In addition to helping thousands of people to navigate safely to their destinations (memorizing bus schedules without the use of a computer!), Butch was known for his acts of kindness. He began a tradition of giving out free coffee and mom’s home-made cookies on Christmas Day at the bus terminal.

Butch was a loving husband to Carol and loving father to their two daughters, Lori (Spigelmyer) Novak, and Lisa (Spigelmyer) Laity. He instilled his morals, his work ethic, as well as his love of good old-fashioned fun! He was known for his big smile, a mischievous sparkle in his eye, his practical jokes, his love of trivia, and was always up for making $1 bets on unusual topics. These smiles were frequent during picnics at their home with family and friends, especially during his ever-famous croquet games with house-rules! In later years, he and Carol enjoyed some adventurous vacations such as portaging and canoeing on Lake Ontario, rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, hunting in Montana, and sightseeing in Alaska. He taught his daughters to love nature, hiking, camping on the mountain, and introduced them to the basics of target shooting, archery and fishing.

Butch and Carol were active members of Friedens Lutheran Church throughout their life. After retiring, Butch had more time to volunteer for the Food Pantry as well as helping out with carpentry projects at the church.

Butch acquired two sons-in-law, Nick Novak and Cory Laity, who were welcome additions to the family. He also became a doting and loving grandfather to Nicholas Novak (and his wife, Brianne), Alexander Novak, Chloe Laity, and Jalynn Laity, and was known to them as “Pappy Butch”. He was a frequent fan in the stands at many basketball games, Special Olympic events, and volleyball matches. Butch taught all the grandkids how to fish and sponsored an annual fishing derby in the creek near his hunting cabin. Butch lived to meet two great granddaughters, Mila Novak and Madeline Novak.

Butch was preceded in death by brother-in-law, Donald Sheesley and sister-in-law Carol (Swift) Spigelmyer. Last year he was able to celebrate his 80th birthday with his remaining sister-in-law, Eleanor (Sheesley) Long and her husband, Joe, all of his nieces and nephews and many close family and friends. He also kept in touch with his Uncle Glenn Probst and cousins who live in the state of Washington.

Butch will be greatly missed by all. He will be remembered as the man who always had a smile! He is described well in the lyrics of the song,” Dad,” by Tyler Wood: “An early riser, always on-timer, a back breaker, a giver not a taker, a patient teacher, strong steady leader, firm hand shaker, never met a stranger, tough as steel, heart of gold!”

We will celebrate his life at a Memorial Service at Friedens Lutheran Church in Oley on July 20, 2024 at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600 Doylestown, PA 18901.

Online guestbook and condolences may be made at www.beanfuneralhomes.com