Otto Slater

Otto Meckes Slater

1924-2015

Otto Meckes Slater was born on October 20, 1924 to Howell and Annie Slater in Ogden, Utah.  He passed away peacefully in his home in Los Altos Hills, CA on April 18, 2015.  Otto had two older brothers, John and Walter, and two older sisters, Helen and Jane.  He is survived by his sister Jane Marquis, and his children Claudia Vinton, Kristine Sturgill and Robert Slater.  Otto and the late Luciel Wright Slater have twelve grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by one granddaughter, McKenzie Slater.

Otto grew up on 13 ^th Street in Ogden, and attended Mt. Fort Elementary.  In 1942 he graduated from Ogden High School.  He played baseball and football in his youth, and was particularly good at fishing.  He learned to work hard helping his grandfather in the brickyards, his uncle at his ranch in Idaho, and worked at the train station a bit.  Hard work became Otto.  He loved to work.

After high school, World War ll was on, and Otto tried to join the military but was rejected because of a perforated ear drum.  Wanting to serve his country, he got a job helping survey for the Alcan Highway in Alaska.  This was one of his greatest experiences.  He returned to Utah and attended Weber College, the University of Washington, and graduated from the University of Utah in mechanical engineering.
Soon after, he married his longtime love, Luciel Wright.

Otto’s first post-graduation job was in China Lake California at the US Naval Ordinance Test Station.  Later, he took a job with Lockheed Missile and Space in the San Francisco Bay Area.  He loved his job, and worked on warhead weapons for aircraft, ship, submarine, and space launch.  He worked on rocket development, and in the missile systems division.

Otto and Lucy built their dream home in Los Altos Hills.  There, he planted fruit trees, grew gardens, and was generous in sharing their fruits with many.  His dear neighbor, the late Wallace Stegner, once said of him, “Otto has a green thumb up to his elbow!”  Otto also returned to his family cabin in Utah every summer so he could fish the Ogden River and be with family.  He loved the outdoors!  He inspired us with his work ethic, and generosity.  He had many friends, a rich laugh, and enthusiastic hug.  He will be dearly missed.

A Memorial Service will be held on April 27, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Pleasant Valley 3 ^rd Ward, 5640 South 850 East, Ogden.  Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.  Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.  A memorial will also be held in California at his home on Saturday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m.