DODGE CITY - Otto Lee Walters, 84, died Thursday, March 19, 2009 at Western Plains Medical Complex , Dodge City. He was born on May 30, 1924 at Dodge City the son of Vernon and Mary (Davis) Walters.

Otto grew up in Bloom and graduated from Bloom High School in 1943. He served in the US Army from 1945 to 1947. Otto was a co-founder of the Ford County Civil Defense in 1965 which later became the Ford County Fire & EMS. In 1980 he became Fire Chief and EMS director of Ford County serving as chief until 1998. He then became director of the Ford County EMS until his retirement in 2000.

He was a member of First Christian Church, Howard Gotschall Post #1714, V.F.W., Salvation Army Advisory Board all of Dodge City, past president of the State Emergency Preparedness Association and lifetime member of the Kansas Emergency Management Association.

Otto married Charlene VanVoorhis on June 8, 1978 at the First Baptist Church of Dodge City, she survives. Other survivors include a daughter, Jeanne Dill & husband Albert of Wichita; two step-daughters, Debbie Schreiber of Waco, Texas and Sheryl Fernandez and husband Jerry of Brownwood, Texas; brother, Kenny Cox and wife Esther of Dodge City; two sisters, Gladys Woolwine and husband Bobby of Dodge City and Mary Jo Switzer and husband Gerald of Ashland; grandson, Jeffrey Dill and wife Melyssa of Wichita; step-grandson, John Schreiber of Covington, Texas and step-granddaughter, Emerald Fernandez of Brownwood, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.

Graveside service will be held at Bucklin Cemetery in Bucklin on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 2:00 PM with Rev. Gary Winget presiding. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home on Monday, March 23, 2009 from Noon to 8:00 PM. Memorials can be made to the Salvation Army in care of the funeral home. Personal Condolences may be left at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.