OGLESBY, Kenneth Elbert, age 93, of Trotwood, Ohio, passed away at home on December 22, 2019. He was born on November 26, 1926, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Caneous and Edith Oglesby. Raised and educated in Dayton, he attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and Sinclair Community College. A part of the Greatest Generation, he served in the U.S. Army, from 1945 to 1947, during World War II. As a private at Camp Atterbury, in South Central Indiana, he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal. He was ultimately deployed to Germany, and while serving overseas he had the opportunity to explore other parts of Europe. As a corporal trained as a rifleman, his final post was at Fort Benning, near Columbus, Ga., where he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal and received an honorable discharge. Kenneth retired in 1985 as a procurement specialist from the Defense Electronic Supply Center in Kettering, Ohio, having previously worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton; his was a 37-year civil-service career with the federal government. Not one to rest on his laurels, he opted to go back to work, part-time, in the security division of Lazarus department store in Trotwood for a couple of years. Kenneth was one of the most-senior members of Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Dayton. He was a decades-long member of Equity Lodge #121 and Amer Temple #107 of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America. He was also a former member of the Dayton Duplicate Bridge Club. For years he was active with his neighborhood’s community projects and was an involved citizen in the City of Trotwood. He was an avid golfer and a longtime member of Dayton-area golf leagues. His other passions included collecting and listening to jazz music, playing bridge, reading, and watching murder mysteries and police-crime television series. He and his late wife Allene Oglesby loved to travel and visited most major American cities as well as Canada and the Caribbean–but their favorite vacation spot was the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans, where Kenneth was in his element. He also enjoyed a good game of Bid Whist, poker, tonk and checkers; occasional games of chance at casinos; and working on pet projects in his spare time. Those who knew him, know he was highly inquisitive, loved to talk and “never met a stranger.” He particularly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and visiting with family members across the country. Kenneth was preceded in death by: his parents; wife Allene Oglesby; daughter Marilyn Oglesby, from his previous marriage to Juanita (née Long) Oglesby; sister Ferrol Caldwell and brother Charles Oglesby; and nieces Gloria Caldwell and Paulette Caldwell and nephew Reginald Oglesby. The father of three, he leaves to cherish a lifetime of memories: his loving daughter Leslie Cox (with Juanita) of Dayton and devoted son Kenneth T. Oglesby (with Allene) of Johns Creek, Ga.; granddaughters Victoria Nelson and Carmen Oglesby, both of Trotwood, Donna (Dave) Oglesby-Kemps of Dayton and Starr Gray of Vandalia, Ohio; great-granddaughters Lauren Kendrick and Brittany Oglesby, both of Trotwood; great-great granddaughters Dalaiha Calhoun of Trotwood and Samaria Gray of Vandalia and great-great grandson Brayleon Oglesby of Trotwood; nephew Eugene Caldwell of Trotwood and niece Deborah Thomas of Dayton; special cousins Rowena Smith and Dollie Hairston, both of Dayton, and a host of other relatives; ever-faithful caregiver Yvette Verdell; Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton; and myriad lifelong friends. .Masonic services for Brother Oglesby will be held Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, 6 - 8 p.m., at Thomas Funeral Home, 4520 Salem Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45416. The funeral will be held 12:00 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, at Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 4200 Germantown Pike, Dayton, Ohio 45417. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place Monday, Jan. 6, 1:30 p.m., at Dayton National Cemetery, 4400 W. Third St., Dayton, Ohio 45428. In his honor, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. On-line condolences may also be sent to the family at www.thomasfunerals.com