BRIDGEWATER, N.J. Walther Henry Ott, 99 , died peacefully Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010, in Bridgewater, N.J. Memorial services were held at Bridgewater, with interment at Westfield, N.J.

Mr. Ott was born Sept. 30, 1911, in Hermiston to Henry John Ott and Minnie Walther Ott, in the farmhouse his father built in 1908. Notable youth activities included participation in 4-H, Boy Scouting, high school debate and track and field events. He won the state of Oregon high school debate championship his senior year and was valedictorian of his senior class.

In 1934 he graduated from Oregon State College with a bachelor’s degree in poultry husbandry and a minor in biochemistry. He earned his master’s degree in animal nutrition, also from Oregon State College. He married Maxine Peterson in 1936, and they moved to Stillwater, Okla., where he taught turkey production courses at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) for one year. They then moved to State College, Pa., while he earned his doctorate in agricultural and biological chemistry from Pennsylvania State College.

The family moved to New Jersey in 1942, where he began a research career at the Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research. He held the title of senior scientist at the time of his retirement in 1976. He was the first non-university, non-government person to be elected to the presidency of the Poultry Science Association (1971-72). He published 102 scientific papers and held two patents.

Mr. Ott is survived by daughters Ruth Arthur of Indianapolis, Ind., and Arline Cox of Bridgewater, N.J.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine; son Roger; parents Henry and Minnie Ott; and sisters Edna Ott Stratton and Marian Ott Wagner.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Fellowship Fund of the United Methodist Homes of N.J., 3311 St. Rd. 33, Neptune, NJ 07753-9926.

The full obituary may be seen at www.brucecvanarsdalefuneralhome.com.