Sara Ballengee Otto

Sara Ballengee Otto, daughter of Schuyler Colifax and Ida Canterbury Ballengee, left this world to join her late husband, James Ernest Otto, and family, two days prior to her 100th birthday on October 18, 2014. She is survived by two of her five sisters, Nancy Ballengee Brown of Ormond Beach, FL., and Jeanette Ballengee Hale of Dunedin, FL., one nephew, B. Thomas Brown, M.D., of Ormond Beach, FL., two nieces, Sara Hale Simmons (John) of Dunedin, FL., and Elizabeth Cox Buckley ( Brian) of Houston, TX.; six great nieces and nephews, Elizabeth T. Brown, M.D., of Nashville, TN., J. Schuyer Brown of Jacksonville, FL., Matthew Hale Simmons of Tampa, FL., Elizabeth Simmons Wolcott (William) of N.Y., N.Y., Morgan Elizabeth Buckley of Dallas,TX., and Phillip Hazeldine (Nancy) of Huntington, W.V.
Sara graduated from West Virginia University where she served as Vice-President of the student body and President of her beloved Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She remained loyal to the Mountaineers, following them until her death. She had an illustrious professional career beginning as a school teacher and culminating her career as the President of Ballengee Furniture until her retirement in 1988.
She was extremely active civically in Beckley having served as the president of both the Junior and Senior Women's Club, President of the Women's Christian Society on two occasions, and as a member of the Beckley Zoning Board. She was on the Raleigh County Commission of Condemnation, was a member of the Girl Scout Council, and was active in the acquisition and retention of the outdoor drama,” Honey in the Rock.” Sara also was instrumental in starting the Beckley Child Care Center.
Long a supporter of higher education, she served as a trustee of West Virginia Wesleyan College, and she was a member of the board of Mountain State University well past her 90th birthday. She was a true Christian and a believer in the Methodist Church, having attended the Methodist Temple where she was a member of the building committee and was one of the first women to serve on the Administrative Council.
All of the above accomplishments show the successful life that our Aunt Sara lived. However, in our eyes, her most successful accomplishment was her utter love, support, and belief in all of her family members. She taught us that family is all that matters. A little bit of her and her truths will always be carried in each one of our hearts.
A celebration of Sara Otto’s extraordinary life and a memorial service will be held Friday, November 14, 11AM, at her beloved Methodist Temple. The family would like to thank the people of Beckley for all of the love and care they have given our aunt and sister, Sara, over her many years. We especially want to extend our appreciation and express our admiration to Sara’s devoted caregivers: Linda Sears, Tossy Accord, and Candy Meadows. We are forever indebted to them. A special heartfelt thanks also goes to Sara Meador for being a true and steadfast friend to our adored Aunt Sara. Annette Sanders was also a very trusted and loyal friend. We thank her too. Friends may call beginning at 10 AM at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Methodist Temple or to the charity of their choice.

Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.