Thomas "Tom" Edward Botteicher
Thomas Edward Botteicher, 80, of Callaway, VA, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025, the first day of summer, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He fought so hard to get well enough to go home, but it was not meant to be. As a good and faithful servant his work here on Earth was done. He did not have to suffer any more. Tom was born on January 5, 1945 in Altoona, PA to the late Martha (Green) and Samuel Delancey. He was adopted at age 8 by the late Clayton Botteicher. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Peggy (Berg) Botteicher; son, Thomas Edward Green Botteicher and wife Brandy (Templeton) Botteicher; daughters, Jennifer Lynn Brubaker and Amy Ruth Botteicher; sister-in-law, Mary (Berg) Kelly; grandchildren, Robert Thomas Stan, Madeline Mae Botteicher, Emily Rose Brubaker, Bradley Thomas and Kara Bell Botteicher; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Upon graduation from Bellwood-Antis High School Tom enlisted in the US Navy where after completing his basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station, he went to Submarine school and earned his Dolphins and then his career rating as a Yeoman and then Personnel man. While on patrol with the nuclear sub–Francis Scott Key off Vietnam, he was reassigned to a shore patrol and saw action during the Tet offensive. It was during his shore rotation in Quonset Point Rhode Island; he met his wife who was attending the University of Rhode Island. During their first five years of marriage, they were assigned and transferred to many naval stations finally ending up in Virginia Beach for the remainder of his 22-year career. During his career he went under the Arctic Circle, across the Equator and through the Panama Canal. He served aboard a supply ship out of Norfolk; with a helicopter squadron at Lakehurst New Jersey; with the Attack Squadron VA-35, Black Panthers Intruder jets, out of Oceana and on the initial deployment with them aboard the USS Nimitz. It was on November 22, 1975, aboard the Guided Missile Cruiser USS Belknap that he lived through a ship destroying collision with the Aircraft Carrier USS Kennedy in the Mediterranean Sea. On his final deployment aboard the LSD USS Pensacola, he was in port when the US Embassy was bombed in Beirut, Lebanon. He had spent several days with the Marines on patrol in Beirut and dealt poker to the Marines the night before the bombing since they did not trust their fellow Marines to deal. He again lost several friends to that tragedy.
Upon retirement Tom worked part time night security until he graduated from Correctional Officer training and worked several years as a Corrections Officer at the Saint Brides Corrections Facility in Chesapeake. He was fondly known as Pops by the inmates as they knew he always treated them fairly. Upon his wife’s work transfer to Roanoke, he was hired by the VA Medical Center as a Medical Records Clerk. He retired from the VA after 19 years. He also worked on Sundays at Commando Supply Army/ Navy Store, during gun shows at the Civic Centers and at area Pow Wows with his friend Steve Roragen.
Tom loved the outdoors. During his stay in Virginia Beach, he enjoyed going out on the ocean fishing boats, especially when the Blues were running, and fishing on the Blackwater River in Chesapeake. He enjoyed camping with his family both near the shore and in the mountains. Camping also played a large part in his love of hunting; duck, deer, rabbit or pheasant. Off season he practiced by shooting Trap and Skeet. During one Duck season, he brought a small kitten home for his wife so the day was not a complete loss. Once he moved to Roanoke and he and Peggy bought a piece of property in Callaway with acreage and in 1995 finally built a home in Callaway. He was so happy to just be able to walk out the back door and be in his own hunting ground with a deer stand he could see from the upper floor bedroom window. On weekends, he spent hours with yard work and cutting and maintaining trails across the 12 acres behind the house. Missing the comradery of shipmates or co-workers in retirement, Tom joined the Men’s’ Breakfast Group of Trinity Episcopal Church at The Hub Restaurant on the first and third Tuesday of each month. He was an avid reader of Louis L’Lamour westerns and military history, especially from the Civil War and WWII.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial donation may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church’s Outreach Fund or to The Navy Relief Fund.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 15 East Church Street, Rocky Mount, VA, 24151. The family will be available for visitation before the service at 1:00 p.m. for anyone wishing to meet with them. There will be a reception following the service in the church parish hall.
Flora Funeral Home in Rocky Mount is helping the family navigate this difficult time and we wish to thank them very much for their compassion, kindness and assistance.
