WALLINGFORD - John Wilkinson Hotz, 90, departed this life on Friday, January 24, 2014 at his home with his wife Carol (Knakal) Hotz at his side. John was born on April 28, 1923, in Naini Tal, India, a son of the late Hans and Olive (Massingham) Hotz. John served in the Royal Air Force during WWII. He trained at the L'Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne before beginning a career as a hotelier. John was a kind and loving man who had an easy way of conversing even with strangers. In his free time, he enjoyed a wide variety of activities that included being a pilot, a sailor and spending time camping with family. He was active at the Cheshire United Methodist Church and he loved and cared for many animals over the years. In addition to his wife, he will be sadly missed by his son: J. Roger Hotz and his wife Pam Willson of Chicago, IL; his daughter: Christine Koehler of Joliet, IL; two grandchildren: Megan Koehler and Gregory Koehler; a brother: David Hotz of Sweden; a sister: Elizabeth Durant of Australia; and his very dear friends: Karan and Creighton Myers and their daughters Emily and Haley. A memorial service will be held at the Cheshire United Methodist Church, 205 Academy Road, Cheshire, CT on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations in John's memory may be made to any of the following organizations: Cheshire United Methodist Church, 205 Academy Road, Cheshire, CT 06410 The Meriden Humane Society, 311 Murdock Avenue, Meriden, CT 06450 Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanob, UT, 84741 www.bestfriends.org The B.C. Bailey Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. To leave a message of hope and remembrance or for directions please visit www.BCBailey.com