Dr. Ray Charles Otte Jr.

Dr. Ray Charles Otte, Jr., 92, died in York County on Sunday, November 26, 2023. A resident of Hampton, Virginia for 50 years, Ray was born in Wheeling, West Virginia on January 4, 1931 during the Great Depression. He grew up in Appalachia’s coal country, and had many youthful adventures in the mountains and rivers of his home state, walking the railroad trestle bridges over the Ohio River, learning about painting from his Aunts, and hearing stories from his Uncles. The Otte family was of German descent and included shopkeepers, workers, and store owners who settled the Ohio River Valley. His father, Ray Sr., was the town doctor in Wellsburg, West Virginia and was known for his hard work and dedication, traits that Ray clearly inherited. In this environment he developed a love of family that he kept with him his whole life. Ray attended the University of West Virginia, and graduated from Medical School at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio where he met his wife, Martha Ann Mooth, and wooed her through their shared love of classical music. They married in 1954 and together raised three children. In 1964 they moved to Hampton, Virginia where Ray became the head of the Radiology department at Hampton General Hospital. Here Ray’s gregarious nature took many different paths. He quickly embraced the joy of living near the water and jumped into the sport of sailing, making new friends and acquaintances that would last a lifetime. The Wednesday night race in Hampton Roads would often include Ray and crew taking advantage of the beautiful long summer evenings with a soft breeze on the water. Ray also cared deeply about music and the performing arts, serving on the board of directors for many institutions. He was a supporter of the symphony and revered Marti in her work as a piano teacher and musician until she passed in 1994. After Marti’s passing, Ray met another loving partner, Cynthia Lawson, who had also suffered the loss of a spouse. In 1996 they were married, combining their families together along Chesapeake Avenue. Ray added Rowdy, a small black and white Boston Terrier, followed by Howdy, into the mix. Theirs was a home for many holiday events and family parties. Their many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren experienced the warmth, stability and generational love that came from Cynthia and Ray. Ray and Cynthia had 24 loving years together until she passed in 2020. Ray is also remembered as a golfer and painter. He was a member of the James River Country Club, where he could golf his age and loved to let you know it. His paintings provide a visual history of his life and the times. He was inspired by the life he saw around him and in his travels. His artistic expression was in landscape and portrait, which became a visual representation of his storytelling. Whether he was telling you how he learned to load and smoke a pipe, or critiquing a symphony concert in Cleveland, Ray always had a story to tell if there was an audience at hand. He will be deeply missed. Ray is survived by his children, Mr. Charles Otte and wife Christine, Dr. Robert Otte and wife Jane, Mrs. Elizabeth Tyree and husband David; his step children, Mrs. Cynthia Lawson Pivik and husband Keith, Dr. West Lawson and wife Mary Kay, Mr. Branch Lawson and wife Bonnie, Rev. Jay Lawson and wife Claudia; grandchildren Bjorn Nelson, Alexandra Callon, Charlton Otte, Harrison Otte, Benjamin Tyree, and Scott Tyree; great grandchildren Georgia Callon, Adelaide Powell, and Chloe Nelson; ten step-grandchildren and eleven step great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:30pm on December 16, 2023 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton Va. with a reception to follow. Burial will precede the memorial and will be for family members only at Peninsula Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in the form of contributions to the Virginia Symphony. The QR code shown in the image gallery may be used for donations.