Antoine Otto

Mr. Antoine Otto, age 96, of Madison, MS, was called home to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ on July 16, in the year of our Lord, 2025.

Mr. Otto was born on August 27, 1928 in Biloxi, MS and was raised there as well. He attended Sacred Heart Academy, along with his siblings throughout grade school. He graduated from Notre Dame Catholic High School for boys in Biloxi in 1946 and was a member of the school’s third graduating class.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Rebecca Otto, also of Biloxi and originally from the Middle East; his loving & devoted wife of 46 years, Betty Palmer Otto; sisters Antoinette (Don) Gray of Albany, GA; Elaine (Jerry) LeBlanc of Moss Point, MS; brothers Norman Otto of Gulfport, MS and Brother Joseph Otto, Holy Cross Brother of the University of Notre Dame, IN; and a son, Joseph Antoine Otto.

He is survived by his three adoring daughters, Julie Otto of Indianapolis, IN; Linda (Thomas) Musgrove of Grand Bay AL, and Theresa (Ronald) Wooten of Madison, MS; sister Lillie (Tony) Melone of Bethesda, MD; three grandchildren, Jessica (Joshua) Speights of Madison, MS; Mary Palmer and James Ronald Wooten III of Starkville, MS; great-grandson, André Otto, of Tallahasse, FL; great-granddaughters, Lanie, Toni and Betty; numerous nieces, nephews, dear friends, and his beloved companion and caregiver, Mrs. Peggy Lindsey of Madison, MS.

Antoine loved to tell stories to his family of his colorful childhood in Biloxi. As a young, curious boy, he enjoyed exploring the wooded areas surrounding his family home which was situated behind his father’s general store on Howard Avenue, eating figs from the trees until his belly ached! His curiosity of electricity and the general mechanics of how things worked found him on top of the tin roof of his father’s store, latched onto an electrical wire, unable to break free. Once the neighbors called the electric company and had the electricity turned off to the entire block, his Papa was able to get him down. He feared getting in trouble for the stunt, but his father sat him down in the store and gave him a Barq’s root beer, as he was so happy that his boy was okay! He and his siblings loved to jump off of the city pier and swim out to Deer Island to frolic in the sun and wildness of the untamed island. These adventures led him to become very actively involved in the Boy Scouts of America, achieving his revered status of Eagle Scout. He remained an active member of his original Boy Scout troop number 212, throughout his life, even into his 80’s as a camp counselor at Camp Wilkes in Biloxi.

As a second generation “cradle” Catholic, Antoine became deeply involved in the Catholic men’s fraternal organization, the Knights of Columbus, especially in the Pro-Life Movement, as a Fourth Degree Knight. In 1990, he was the acting Pro-Life Chairman for the state of MS. He organized many events benefitting the unborn, such as an annual MS Gulf Coast wide collection drive, distributing all types of items for mothers-to-be in need.

Mr. Otto was a very proud US Navy and Army National Guard veteran. He served in the Navy internationally during the Korean War. As he was eager to serve his country, he enlisted in the Navy shortly after his high school graduation on July 19, 1946. After basic training, he attended Basic Engineering and Motor Machinist courses complimenting his love for anything with working parts. Following these courses, he went on his first tour of duty to the Military Island of Guam, as a Fireman First Class. Next, he was transferred to the USS Thuban, AKA-19, as a Boiler Technician, Third Class.

After being Honorably Discharged to Treasure Island, CA on July 19, 1949, Antoine continued feeding his love of mechanics by purchasing a Harley Davidson motorcycle and proceeded to tour the western states of the US, including CA, WY, NV, and Utah. Along the way he made many lifelong friends who nicknamed him ‘Tony’, for whom his great-granddaughter, Toni, is named.

On September 10, 1950, Mr. Otto was recalled to active duty aboard the USS Manchester, CL-83, until March28, 1952. From May 1952 to July 1953, he attended Northrup Aeronautical Institute in Englewood, CA where he received a certificate of Aircraft Engine Mechanic and was licensed by the Civil Aeronautics Board. From 1954 to 1959, he was stationed and promoted to various other positions revolving around the aeronautical mechanics field.

In September 1959 to June 1963, Antoine relocated his family to Columbus, MS to attend the School of Engineering at Mississippi State University, commencing a family legacy of Bulldog lovers!

From October 1961 to August 1962, Mr. Otto was a member of the 223rd Engineer Battalion of the Mississippi National Guard in West Point, MS, to which he was mobilized for Federal Service due to the Berlin Crisis, serving at Fort Polk, LA.

For the remainder of his career, Mr. Otto worked as a draftsman, designing Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning systems as a contractor for the US Navy. This career move afforded him to take his family to live in different parts of the US, including NY, NJ, MD, and Houston, TX, sightseeing the entire way!

As a lifelong person of health and fitness, Antoine participated in the Senior Olympics in his eighties, winning many Gold Medals for several track and field events including the long jump and all of the dashes.

Antoine’s family meant EVERYTHING to him, as he led them to know Jesus and live a devoted, Christian life! There were not very many functions in which his family participated that he did not attend, always showing his love and support and helping out whenever and wherever needed. “No” was NOT in his vocabulary!

Visitation for Mr. Otto will be held on August 16, 2025 at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Biloxi, his home parish for his formative years, at 10:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin directly after visitation at 11:00 am.

The family would like to offer sincere gratitude to Mrs. Peggy Lindsey for her tireless efforts of additionally enriching the last 10+ years of Antoine’s life. Also, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Knights of Columbus at www.kofc.org

Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Antoine Otto.