He was born on Oct. 23, 1913, on a farm near Coyville to Ernest M. and Emma Florence (Lollar) Kolb. In 1914, his family moved to Parsons, where he and his sister attended the former Stone Place School. The family later moved to a farm northwest of Parsons, where they finished school at Ladore. Otis then attended Parsons High School.
Otis worked for local farmers until beginning employment at Ervin’s Auto Services in 1937. He later was employed at the Katy Railroad as a machinist from 1942 until his retirement in 1974.
On Nov. 23, 1938, he married Myrtle Marie Price at Parsons. She preceded him in death on March 3, 1977. He later married Josephine Grace (Wertz) Shoesmith on June 17, 1978, at Parsons. She preceded him in death on May 7, 2011.
Otis was a faithful member of First Baptist Church, having joined in 1951. In past years, he taught the fifth-grade boys Sunday school class and more recently the Builder’s Class for many years. He was also a life member of the I.A.M. Machinists Union Local 293. He enjoyed collecting antiques and also restored antique glass and china. He loved doing lapidary work, travelling and photography.
Survivors include a son, Danny R. Kolb, and his wife, Pat, of Dodge City; two daughters, Jean M. Ayers of Kalispell, Mont., and Sharon K. Majors, and her husband, Wayne, of Ponca City, Okla.; three stepsons, Melvin D. Shoesmith, and his wife, Beth, of Copan, Okla., Darold D. Shoesmith, and his wife, Rachael, of Clearwater and Gary L. Shoesmith, and his wife, Julie, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; two stepdaughters, Esther M. Lewis of Parsons and Erlene G. Kerley, and her husband, Ray, of Murray, Utah; 18 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
In addition to Marie and Grace, he was preceded in death by his sister, Velma Chancy on Jan. 14, 1999.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, 1621 Main. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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