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Ottis Leroy Spigelmyer Jr. (Butch) passed away on Monday, June 17, 2024. Born Aug. 22, 1943, to Ottis Spigelmyer Sr. and Elsie Spigelmyer, Butch grew up in Mifflintown, Juniata County.
He 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 wonderful life and love for 63 years. His first job was with the Trailways Bus Company in Harrisburg, which led him to independently managing the Trailways and Bieber Bus Company, in Reading. He worked there for 40 years, as he and Carol made their home in Oley Valley.
Butch was a devoted husband to Carol and a loving father to their two daughters, Lori (married to Nick) Novak, and Lisa (married to Cory) Laity. He was known for his big smile, a mischievous sparkle in his eye, his practical jokes, his love of trivia, and for making $1 bets on unusual topics. In later years, he and Carol enjoyed adventurous portaging/canoeing on Lake Ontario, rafting through the Grand Canyon, hunting in Montana, and sightseeing in Alaska. He taught his daughters to love nature, hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities.
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 doing some carpentry projects for the church. He was a doting grandfather to Nicholas (wife, Brianne) and Alexander Novak, and Chloe and Jalynn Laity, and was known to them as "Pappy Butch.'' He was a frequent fan in the stands at many basketball and volleyball games and Special Olympics events. Butch lived to meet two great-granddaughters, Mila and Madeline Novak.
Butch will be greatly missed by all. He will be remembered as the man who always had a smile and a kind heart. We will celebrate his life at a memorial service at Friedens Lutheran Church in Oley at 11 a.m. on July 20, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA, 18901.