Undated, unidentified clipping in a scrapbook at the Saranac Lake Veteran's Club.Born: October 11, 1902
Died: June 1, 1982
Married: Beatrice La Clair
Children: Arthur W. Otis
Joshua A. Otis was a World War II veteran. He worked as a caretaker.
Tupper Lake Free Press and Herald, June 2, 1982
Joshua Otis, 79, dies June 1st
Joshua A. Otis, 79, of 48 First St., died at 7:58 a. m. Tuesday, June 1 at Mercy General Hospital, after a long illness.
He had been a patient in Saranac Lake General Hospital and in the local facility since February 27th.
He was born at Paul Smiths, N.Y. on Oct. 11, 1902, the son of Arthur and Ruby Sibley Otis, and was married on Nov. 19, 1923 at Churubusco, N.Y., to Miss Beatrice La Clair of that village, who survives.
Mr. Otis worked as caretaker at the Pine Needles Camp and the Walter Mordecai Camp on Upper Saranac Lake for many years prior to World War II. He saw action with the Navy as a petty officer, carpenter's mate, 2nd class during the war, and with the Marine Corps on Guadalcanal, where he contracted malaria which left him a patient for five months in a New Zealand hospital. Thereafter he was stationed in Scotland.
After the war the family came to Tupper Lake and he joined the staff at Sunmount VA Hospital, continuing on after the change-over to state operation in 1965 for two and a half years before retiring in 1968.
Mr. Otis was very active in Edmund Bujold Post 3120, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and served five terms as post commander, in addition to a term as commander of St. Lawrence Counties Council, VFW.
Surviving, besides his wife, are a son, Arthur W. Otis of Essex Jet., Vt.; a niece, Joan Crary, Tupper Lake; a great niece, Rita Bombard, Saranac Lake; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Rennell Funeral Home tonight and Thursday afternoon and evening. A Mass of the resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Alphonsus Church. Interment, with military honors, will be in St. Alphonsus Cemetery.
