Donna Flo Ott , 86, of Kimmell, passed away in the company of family at 7:39 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Millers at Oak Pointe, Columbia City.

Born on August 10, 1938, in Neon, Kentucky, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Naomi (Bach) Kilgore.  As the family moved often to secure work, she grew up in Kentucky and Indiana and was raised by her stepmother, Lula Bowers.  She attended Larwill High School.

Settling in the Larwill area, Donna raised three children.  On May 29, 1982, she married Ronald Keith Ott.  They made their home near Kimmell.

A dedicated homemaker, she made sure the needs of her family were met.  Enjoying serving others, she was a clerk and server at the former S&L Truck Stop for over ten years.  After their closure, she worked for the Walker Restaurant in Wolf Lake and completed her work career at the Half-Acre Café near Chain-O-Lakes, Albion.  With her organization skills and willingness to serve others, she was a past-president of the Wolf Lake VFW Auxiliary and organized the volunteers for their various projects.

She was an avid reader and enjoyed romance novels by Danielle Steel, Nicholas Sparks, and others. She liked word puzzles and a good game of Scrabble.  The game Text Twist kept her laser-focused sometimes well past midnight.  Remembered as a great cook, she made delicious sourdough bread.

Surviving is her husband of 42 years, Keith; children, Thomas Loe of Holland, OH; Cindy (Jerry) Norris of Larwill and Brad (Sarah Weeks) Geiger of Albion; 5 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sisters, Jane (David) Rayner, Bonita Vanderford and Norma (Steve) Hatfield all of South Whitley and a brother, Hugh (Mary) Kilgore of Fort Wayne

Additionally, she was preceded in death by her step-mother, Lula Bowers, and brothers, Darrell, George, and Charles David Kilgore.

A private family visitation will be held at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.  Burial will take place at the Christian Chapel Cemetery in Merriam at a later date.

Memorials in Donna's honor are to the Wolf Lake VFW or the Peabody Library.