Robert H. Botts

Robert H. "Bob" Botts, 82, of Topeka, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 15, 2004 after an eight-month battle with lung cancer. He was born in Kirksville, Missouri, the son of Joseph Henry Botts and Amma Marie Epperson Botts. For 60 years, he was the loving and devoted husband of Ruth Keeton Botts of Topeka, who survives. He was the proud father/father-in-law of Robert Henry Botts, Jr. of Plano, Texas and his wife JoAnn; Ruth Ann Schwart of Topeka and her husband Don; Harry Thomas Botts of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and Jo Rene Longoria of Houston, Texas and her husband Ernest. He took great delight in each of his grandchildren - Michael Schwart and Angela Wetzel and her husband Keith of Topeka; Brandon and Brett Botts, and Carnie Carpenter and her husband, Scott all of Plano, Texas; James and John Botts and Emily Clendenning of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and his great-grandchildren, Zachary, Bethany, and Allison Wetzel, Topeka, and Colby and Caroline Carpenter, Plano, Texas. He is also survived by his sister Betty Easterday of Everett, Washington and her husband Jack. Mr. Botts was preceded in death by his parents, a sister JoAmma Wines and a grandson, Lance Robert Schwart. Bob and Ruth Botts lived in Wichita, Kansas for thirty-nine years, until early this year. He owned and operated Kansas Mattress Company, and they are members of Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita, where they are missed by many friends. Mr. Botts served his country in the Army Air Corps from 1942-1946. In recent years, he was instrumental in organizing several reunions of his church youth group from St. Louis. He was honored to serve as Kansas's representative to the Stewardship Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention for ten years. He enjoyed singing in a men's quartet and loved to fly single-engine aircraft. He was known for his wit and sense of humor, and was admired by all who knew him for his honesty and integrity. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Memorial Park Cemetery and a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita. Mr. Botts will lie in state from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Sunday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel.