Otis A. Bivens

Otis A. Bivens, 97, died Tuesday, January 10, 2012 following a period of declining health. He was born in Lincoln County on October 14, 1914 and was a son of the late Frank Johnny Bivens and Sally McClurd Bivens. In addition to his parents Mr. Bivens was preceded in death by his wife Bertha Moses Bivens; two sisters; one brother; five half-sisters; and his beloved cat, Morris.Otis served in the Civilian Conservation Corp. during the New Deal administration of Franklin Roosevelt and retired from Great Lakes Carbon Corp. in 1979. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Glen Alpine.He is survived by his son, Kenneth Harrison Bivens and his wife, Loretta, of Nebo; his daughter, Barbara Bivens Cartwright and her husband, Leslie, of Morganton; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 13, 2012 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour before the funeral service. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690.