Robert Paul Botts

Robert Paul Botts, Paul to his family and friends, passed away on May 6 at home in Corvallis. Paul was born on July 31, 1923, in Lineville, Iowa, to Isle Malden Botts and Cornelia Alice Botts. He spent his childhood in Missouri. Paul was in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946 and served in the Pacific during World War II. He loved education and learning. Upon return from the Army, Paul earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and mathematics from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo. (1949); a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. (1957); and a Master’s Degree of Public Health in Epidemiology from Tulane University in New Orleans, La. (1958). He continued to study and learn throughout his life, and went back to school after retirement to get an Associate Degree in Journalism from Linn-Benton Community College in Albany (1986). Paul married Frankie McLean on Oct. 7, 1951, in Springfield, Mo. They had three children, and enjoyed a long, happy marriage filled with family, friends and travel all over the world. Paul was a sweet, kind person who dearly loved his family and spent his life making sure they were taken care of. During their married life, Paul and Frankie lived in Missouri, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and the last 30 years in Corvallis. During his early career, Paul worked as a veterinarian for the U.S. Public Health Service, spending most of this time doing research for the heart disease control program. He taught at the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine and spent the majority of his career (1970 to 1983) working as a research veterinarian for the Environmental Protection Agency in North Carolina and Oregon. Paul retired from the Public Health Service/EPA in 1983 at the rank of Captain. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Frankie; as well as his children, Ron Botts of Round Rock, Texas, Beth Botts Miller of Corvallis and Patty Botts Baker of Philomath. He also is survived by 10 grandchildren and many other loving relatives. He truly enjoyed the time he spent with his grandchildren and their friends, as did they with him, listening to his funny stories from his past. He was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Frank Botts. Paul was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Corvallis, the Corvallis Kiwanis Club and Sigma Xi. He enjoyed family, friends, fishing, working on computers, traveling the world and playing bridge. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, May 10, at First Presbyterian Church in Corvallis. Those wishing to make a contribution in Paul’s name can do so to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice.

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Robert Paul Botts

July 31, 1923 - May 6, 2013