Obituaries

Colonel Warren G. Botz, 96

March 19, 2016

Colonel Warren G. Botz, US Air Force, retired, 96, passed away at his Manheim Twp. home on Saturday, March 19, 2016. He was born in Lebanon to the late Tylon J. and Sallie V. (Peiffer) Botz. Warren’s wife, Gladys B. (Jernberg) Botz, died in 2000 after 56 years of marriage.

A 1938 graduate of Lebanon High School, Warren earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois. He also graduated from Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology in Illinois.

Col. Botz served both actively in the US Air Force and the Air National Guard for a total of 37 years, including WWII and the Korean War. He served with Claire Chennault in China. An avid aviation enthusiast, Col. Botz accumulated over 30,000 flying hours.

In addition to his time as a professional military and commercial pilot, Warren worked for Woodstream Corporation for 20 years from 1960 to 1980. He was a member of numerous professional and community organizations.

Warren is survived by two sons, Brigadier General Ronald I. Botz, husband of Lynne of Springfield, IL and Roderick I. Botz, husband of Linda of Lansdale; two daughters, Sally L. Brubaker, wife of the late Walter H. Brubaker, III of Lewes, DE and Valerie A., wife of James E. Coxey of Lancaster; his companion Caroline E. Stover of Lebanon; five grandchildren: Kristen L. Botz, Kelli A. Pawlak, Ronald I. Botz, II, Leslie A. Coxey Walters and Paige A. Smith and 16 great-grandchildren. Six siblings and his grandson Roderick I. Botz, Jr. preceded Warren in death.

A graveside service with Military Honors will take place at 12:30 pm on Friday, March 25, 2016 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Inc., 1117 Country Club Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

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Condolences to the Family

March 30, 2016

Fair winds and following seas Colonel. Thank you for your service to our country.
David & Rosemary Timms

March 28, 2016

I was so sorry to hear of the Colonel’s passing. I met him when i worked at a local diner. Since that time we had may “breakfast dates” at Ihop. I loved his stories of his flying days. He was so proud of all his children. The world is sadder without him, but he will live in my heart forever. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Thanks for all the memories Colonel, you are truely a special man.
Deb Landis

March 24, 2016

A couple of years ago I helped an elderly gentleman when I was a customer at Battery Warehouse. He was having car/battery problems. While helping him somehow we got on the subject of airplanes. I have my pilots license, so we enjoyed a nice conversation. During this conversation he revealed to me he was the last survivor of Clair Chenault’s Flying Tigers, and that he flew Corsairs knowing “Pappy Boyington”. I was in awe of the person I had just met. I looked for a piece of paper to get his autograph. He pulled out a personal “business card” with a P-40 on one side, and he autographed the card for me. We talked for a while, then I had to leave. I could not believe my good fortune to have just met him.
Wondering if he was really who he said he was, I looked him up on the internet. There he was, just as he said. I just sat there quietly knowing I had just shook the hand of a TRUE AMERICAN HERO. Shortly after that I found a book about the Flying Tigers, so I bought it hoping to go to the address he had on the card and ask him to sign the book. Sadly time passed and life got in the way of what I wanted to do, and now sadly seeing his name in the newspaper I am too late.
Thank you Colonel Botz for all you did for our country, Thank you for the time we shared discussing our love of airplanes. I just wish I would have gotten to meet you again. Have a safe trip to the great “Pilots Lounge in the Sky”. Hopefully we will meet there again. The world has lost a true hero, and I lost a man I was proud to say I had known.
William J. Latsha
wjlatsha@verizon.net

March 23, 2016

Our sympathies to the Botz family and friends. Warren was my “first” father-in-law, and I thought the world of him and Gladys. So did my husband, Bill, who had the opportunity to visit with them several times. We were hoping to see him during a trip East this summer. May you always be flying in the “wild blue yonder”, Colonel. Prayers and love to all, Jan and Bill.

March 23, 2016

So sorry to hear about Uncle Warren. He will be missed by so many. He had a long life and lived it to the fullest and did it “His Way”.
I will miss an occasional visit that would have to be booked weeks in advance. He was so proud of his family. He was my hero, responsible for me to take flying lessons before my career with United Airlines.
thoughts and Prayers to all, Diane

Services: Friday, March 25, 2016; 12:30 PM; Indiantown Gap National Cemetery; Annville, PA
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