Otis Hoskins, age 88 of Kettle Island, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. He passed away at Pineville Community Hospital after a short illness.

Born in Pineville on Feb. 19, 1924, he was the son of the late Lee and Lucy Asher Hoskins.

Otis was a United States Army veteran, serving in Europe during World War II with the Eighth Spearhead Division. He fought hand to hand combat through the hedge rows of Germany where he was wounded in action and received a Purple Heart. He was a well known area business man, owning his contracting and construction company, Otis Hoskins Enterprises and his horse stables, Mill Creek Stables.; He was also a pilot and had owned his own airplanes. Otis was a lifelong member of the Calvary Chapel Pentecostal Church, where he served as a church board member and the Sunday School Superintendant. A 60-year Mason, he was a member of the Bell Masonic Lodge #691 in Pineville.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Mae Earlene Hoskins and Pearl Hoskins Vetrano and her husband Frank; and brother, Asher Hoskins and his wife Ada.

Survivors include his brothers, Lehman Hoskins and wife Genevieve of Pineville, and Phillip D. Hoskins and wife Phyllis of Kettle Island; sisters, Bonnie Hoskins, Irene Hoskins and Barbara Hoskins, all of Kettle Island; nieces, Lucy Vetrano Smith and husband Ronald, Lucy Marlene Hoskins, Jayne Hoskins, Zona Beth Fryman, Mae Beth Beverly and Allison Hoskins; nephews, Lee Hoskins and Asher Hoskins; great-nieces and nephews, Phillip Hoskins, Dustin Beverly and Dale Brock; special friends, James and Hettie Brock, Nora Cox, Norma and Laura Akers, Charlie Collett, Jim and Debbie Rosenblam, Dorothy Jackson and the owners and employees of the Rockhampton Coal Company; and a host of other relatives and many, many good friends.

Services were at 2 p.m. Sunday the Calvary Chapel Pentecostal Church with the Rev. Jack Smith presiding. A eulogy was given by his niece, Lucy Smith. Music was by Bonnie Hoskins and Lucy Smith.

Burial followed in the Lee Hoskins Family Cemetery at Kettle Island. Pallbearers were Lee Hoskins, Asher Hoskins, Phillip Hoskins, Dustin Beverly, Dale Brock, Matthew Saylor, Tim Smith and Jim Smith.

The family received friends on Saturday from 6-9p.m. at the Arnett & Steele Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Pineville, which is honored to be serving the Hoskins family. Light a virtual candle and sign the guestbook at www.arnettsteele.com.