Former Willow Grove Air Station Firefighter Passes Away At 61

Obituary courtesy Campbell Ennis Klotzbach Funeral Home.

Bruce Raymond Ottey, age 61, of Groveland, Florida passed away suddenly at his residence on December 5, 2015.

Born November 20, 1954 in Camden, NJ, he was the son of the late Raymond Ottey and Barbara Fuller Spangler.

Mr. Ottey had a passion for helping his community and a unique way of always finding the humor in everything.

His laugh was addicting and not easily forgotten by those that knew him.

He started his career in the fire service as a firefighter for the Valley Forge VA Center before accepting a position as patrolman for the East Pikeland Township Police Department in 1980.

He left the police department in 1984 when he accepted a position as a civilian firefighter for the Willow Grove Naval Air Station where he not only responded to miscellaneous fire calls and alarms but also to airplane crashes and fuel spills if they occurred on base. He retired in 2006.

Retirement bored Bruce, so in 2008, he relocated to Central Florida for a new challenge. He became employed by Walt Disney World in the transportation, watercraft and monorail systems. He used his skills in training and mentoring that he gained in years of the fire service to become a trainer for the monorail employees.

While in PA, Bruce was a long time member and volunteer for the Kimberton Fire Company and West End Fire Company (Phoenixville) and also served as an EMT for West End Ambulance (Phoenixville). Over the years, Bruce used his acquired knowledge and skills to mentor many new volunteers both on emergency medicine and fire/rescue procedures. He taught them how to stay safe so that they could return home to their families after every call. He helped many launch their careers in the paid firefighting and EMS services for private industry and government entities. For him, it was a personal accomplishment when he saw someone he trained succeed.

Bruce’s other passion had always been the Boy Scouts. He had received the highest award, Eagle Scout and later in life, went on to become Scout Master of Troop 49 in Kimberton. Mr. Ottey was always willing to help his friends and family during both good times and bad. His compassion and concern for all those he loved and held dear to him was evident. He had a way of bringing out the best in people. Those that knew him could sum up his character thru a verse from singer Celine Dion’s song, Because You Loved Me:

You were my strength when I was weak

You were my voice when I couldn’t speak

You were my eyes when I couldn’t see

You saw the best there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach

You gave me faith ‘cause you believed

I’m everything I am

Because you loved me

Surviving are his beloved daughter Ashley whom he loved and cherished with all his heart and her son, DJ who was quickly becoming Bruce’s sidekick. Surviving also are his sisters Carol (wife of Charles) Krzywanski, Pottstown, PA, Linda Ottey, Phoenixville, PA, Ashley’s mother, Bonnie, and Bruce’s two K-9 companions, Josey and Jeje.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at the Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., Main street at Fifth Avenue, Phoenixville, PA on Tuesday, December 15, 2015at 10:30 am. Officiating will be the Rev. Ronald P. Wesemann. Friends will be received from 6:30-8 Monday evening or from 9:30-10:30am Tuesday morning at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Chester Springs, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in his name to South Lake Animal League, a no-kill shelter, at P.O. Box 121504, Clermont, FL 34712. The video tribute may be viewed and condolences may be made by visiting www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com.

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