Rufus Lawson Botts, 86, of Fallston Rd, Shelby, passed away Monday, July 9, 2012 at Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville.

He was born on November 29, 1925, in Cleveland County, to the late Rufus Henry Botts and Prue Isabell Beam Botts.  He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and the Lamar Wortman's Sunday school class.  He was also a member of the Cleveland County Senior Golf Club.  His lifelong passions were his family, his church, and his golfing friends.  

Lawson served in the US Army during World War II as a Corporal in the 99th Infantry Division, Company A in the Battle of the Bulge.  During the battle he would be injured and presumed dead until after lying in the snow for a day, he was found to be alive by medics.  He fought in the Ardennes Forest and the Rhineland on the German and Belgium border.  He was a rifleman and

he received a Distinguished Unit Badge, a service medal, two bronze stars, for battles at the Ardennes and the Rhineland, a WWII victory medal, good conduct medal, and combat infantry badge.  

After he left the military he owned Botts ESSO Station, later Stone Oil Company and then retired from Avery Oil Company.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Fitzhugh Botts, James Botts, and Henry Botts and three sisters, Elizabeth Royster, Isabell Hamrick, and Jaunita Kara.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lillian Spangler Botts; and two daughters Brenda Botts Abercrombie of Shelby and Myra Botts Willis and Husband Bill Willis of Shelby; grandson, Terry Abercrombie of Shelby; granddaughter, Ashley Willis of New York, NY; great grandson, Haydn Abercrombie; brother, Hubert Botts and wife Gertrude Botts of Fairfax, VA; sister, Sarah Wright of Millington, TN; a special nephew, Johnny White and wife Vickie White of Casar; and other numerous nieces and nephews; and a special golfing buddy; Charles Propst.

Visitation, 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Wednesday, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Shelby. Condolences may be made online at www.stameyfuneralhome.com.

Funeral Services, 11:00 AM, Wednesday,  Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Shelby.

Officiating, Rev. Jimmy Black, Rev. Ronnell Owensby.

Burial, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Shelby.

Memorials may be made to, American Cancer Society - Carolina Chpt., 1901Brunswick Ave, Ste 100, Charlotte, NC 28207

Arrangements by Stamey Funeral Home, Fallston.