Reverend Dr. Joe Fountain Bottorff, 79 of Indianapolis, IN, passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2026, surrounded by his family.

He was born on September 3, 1946, in Seymour, IN, to Floyd Wilson "Bean" Bottorff and Edna (Fountain) Bottorff.

He was the valedictorian of Seymour High School in 1964, a graduate of Hanover College in 1967 (majoring in Latin and English), and received his Master of Divinity at Methodist Theological School in Ohio and Durham University in England in 1973 (emphasis in parish development and public speaking). Finally, he completed his Doctor of Ministry in 1976 at the Consortium for Higher Education Religion Studies in Ohio through the United Theological Seminary (New Testament Studies with an emphasis on preaching technique).  As a life-long learner, he continued his training in linguistics, speech communications, and counseling at Indiana University, Purdue University, Durham University, and St. John's College, England.

Joe was also a high school teacher at Seymour High School from 1967-1970 teaching advanced Latin and College-Preparatory English.

Joe began his ministry in 1970 as a pastor in the Durham Methodist Circuit in Durham, England, and continued serving the United Methodist Church for over 40 years.  Once he completed school, he served churches in Ohio (Cygnet United Methodist Church in Cygnet) and Indiana (The Methodist Temple in Evansville, Acton United Methodist Church in Acton, North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis).  He last served at Smith Valley United Methodist Church in Greenwood where he served for 20 years and retired in 2013.

During his ministry he served as the Chairman of the Conference Division of Worship, member of the District Council on Ministries, National Vice President of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Worship, Music, and Other Arts, served on many Boards, committees and agencies on the local and state-wide conference level, and was an Assistant to the Superintendent of the Central District.  He enjoyed mentoring new pastors and helping them on their ministerial journey.  In his younger years, Joe would often serve as a chaplain and speaker on cruise ships.  He published several articles in professional journals including an article in the Scottish Journal of Theology.  He enjoyed founding and growing retreat and counseling centers throughout the years including The Hermitage, Fifth Season Retreat Center, and the Southeast Metropolitan Pastoral Counseling Center which later merged with Methodist Hospital.

Not only was Joe in the ministry but he also was involved in real estate.  Joe became a Realtor in Florida in 1988 and then a real estate broker and licensed real estate instructor in Indiana in 1992-1993.  He won Realtor of the Year for the State of Indiana prior to opening his own real estate brokerage, DOC Real Estate, Inc. in Greenwood, IN, in 1992.  He was known as "The Doc."  Joe grew his brokerage to over 20 agents and it has consistently been ranked as one of the top independent real estate brokerages in Greenwood and Indianapolis where his daughter, Heather, has taken over the business.  He was still actively involved in the real estate office, selling residential and commercial real estate, until 2025.  Joe sold real estate in Key West, FL, during his real estate career and often bragged that he got to sell the Southernmost Point Home in the US.

Joe was a kind, compassionate, loving, generous man and always had a smile.  He was a GIVER and he had a passion for people and mission work.  Many people called him a humble servant.  He was involved with missions his entire life going on mission trips to Indonesia and Central and South America.  If Joe could not go on a trip, he would find ways to help others go on trips.  Locally, Joe would visit and keep in contact with prisoners, feed and clothe the homeless, tutor children, and spread kindness and love to everyone.

Joe was a founding member of the Board of Directors of Bridges of Hope International since its beginning in 2007.  Joe regularly traveled with his late wife, Georgia, to Central and South America with the organization.  He enjoyed providing humanitarian and spiritual support during the trips.  Later he was the Board Member Emeritus.

Even after Joe "retired" from the ministry, he was actively involved in the church as a "secret shopper."  He would visit churches in the conference and prepare reports about how the church was welcoming newcomers.  He was also still active in real estate and mission work.   We often joked that he was busier in his retirement than he was when he was working.

Some of Joe's hobbies included singing in the church choir as he loved music, spending time and travelling with his wife, taking cruises, attending the symphony and theater productions, attending IU basketball games with his wife, keeping up to date about politics, gardening, watching the birds, playing cards, spending time with the grandkids and a great grandkid, always learning, and reading.  Joe played the organ and piano and saxophone in his earlier years.  Joe also enjoyed taking popular hymn tunes and re-writing the words to the hymns to match a sermon topic for fellow pastors to have for their church service.

Joe was a member of Roberts Park United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, IN, former board member of Otterbein Franklin Senior Life Community (formerly Franklin United Methodist Home), the Indianapolis Board of Realtors, Indiana Real Estate Exchangers, and Bridges of Hope International.

Survivors include his daughter Heather E. Bottorff Harmon (Chad) of Indianapolis, IN; sons Christopher K. Bottorff (Amber) of Zionsville, IN, and Nathaniel "Christian" Bottorff (Kim) of Silver Spring, MD; six grandsons Bailey Scott, Brandon Scott (Megan Monroe), Blake Scott, Seth Bottorff, Gideon Bottorff, Silas Bottorff; great grandson Greyson Scott, sister Linda Lou Rust (Chester) of LaBelle, FL; and brother Nolan Bottorff (Mary) of Seymour, IN.

He married Georgia G. (Gregory) Bottorff on June 15, 1968, in Seymour, IN.  She preceded him in death on September 14, 2024.  His parents also preceded him in death.

Reverend Dr. Andrew Scanlan-Holmes and Reverend Trevor Farmer will conduct a celebration of life service on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11AM at Roberts Park United Methodist Church, 401 North Delaware Street in Indianapolis, IN, where the family will receive friends for a time of gathering, sharing, and visitation from 10 AM until service time at the church.

A private family inurnment will take place at Riverview Cemetery in Seymour, IN.

Memorial contributions may be made to Roberts Park United Methodist Church, 401 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 ( www.robertsparkumc.org ) or the Smith Valley United Methodist Church, 5293 Old Smith Valley Road, Greenwood, IN 46143 ( www.smithvalleyumc.org ).

Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin is handling the arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com.  Information 317-738-0202.