Obituary for Bobby Kyle Oglethorpe
Bobby Kyle Oglethorpe, “Bobby O”, passed peacefully from this world on Sunday afternoon, June 23, 2019. He was surrounded by loving, caring hearts at his bedside in his home in Pasadena where he had lived since 1964. Bobby was born in Teague, Texas, September 16, 1930 to Mary Newsom Oglethorpe and Elmer Eugene Oglethorpe. He was the youngest of two children, both were sons.
At a young age Bobby’s parents moved the family to Pasadena where his father found work at Shell Refinery in Deer Park. This was during the Great Depression and a steady income was a great blessing. Bobby attended Pasadena schools and graduated from Pasadena High School where he enjoyed being actively involved in such things as the school paper. He was very athletic and was on the football, basketball and track teams. He thoroughly enjoyed his school years and talked fondly of them often. He made many wonderful friendships that lasted for decades. During WWII Bobby volunteered for the Civil Air Patrol at a very young age. He was inspired by his father who enlisted in the Navy after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He was a member of his local church and taught Sunday school for many years.
After graduating from high school in May, 1949, he went to work at Champion Paper Mill here in Pasadena. In 1950, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country for four years, 1950-1954. After his service, he returned to Champion where he became a top-notch machinist and retired about four decades later. A few years later, he decided to go back to work and was employed by Gagemaker, here in Pasadena as a machinist. He worked for some years before retiring for good around 2004.
“Bobby O” met and married the love of his life, Betty Presswood in November of 1964. She was the cherished light of his days for about sixteen years, until her untimely passing as a result of severe illness. He maintained his faith in Jesus to guide him through these trying times. Bobby married Emma “Lou” Powers in April 1983. He then inherited a rather large family of five step-children and an increasing number of grandchildren through the years. At this time, he has six grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. They all adored their Great-Grandpa Bobby O and he would get so excited to see them when they came to visit. His face would light up with joy. Lou and Bobby had many loving years of companionship until her passing in September 2011.
"Bobby O" was an active fellow with high energy and enthusiasm for many years, up until the last few years of his life. After a full day of work, he would often work in his garden or other projects around his home. He was a “hands-on” guy who enjoyed making, building, improving and repairing things. His hobbies included bowling, square dancing, wood working, collecting and refinishing antique furniture and in later years, he became active in researching the genealogy of his family tree. And in much later years, he came to enjoy his easy chair more and watching old westerns on his big screen TV!
He is preceded in death by his parents; his older brother, Elmer, Jr.; and his two wives, as related above. Bobby O is survived by his brother’s daughters, Mary Jane Oglethorpe Evans and Judith Diane Oglethorpe Cox; as well as in-laws, cousins, step-children, grandchildren, great grandchildren by marriage and wonderful friends.
We will all mourn the loss of our “sweet old curmudgeon”, as we used to tease him about. But, we all know that he is in a better place now. We will miss that great sense of humor and wit he had and the way Bobby would greet you when you walked in to find him relaxing in his easy chair watching those old westerns he enjoyed so much. He would look up with a big warm smile and say “Hey, how are you doing? -Come right in here and have a seat!”
Graveside services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at Woodside Cemetery under the direction of Pasadena Funeral Chapel, Pasadena, TX.
God Bless You -"Bobby O"
At a young age Bobby’s parents moved the family to Pasadena where his father found work at Shell Refinery in Deer Park. This was during the Great Depression and a steady income was a great blessing. Bobby attended Pasadena schools and graduated from Pasadena High School where he enjoyed being actively involved in such things as the school paper. He was very athletic and was on the football, basketball and track teams. He thoroughly enjoyed his school years and talked fondly of them often. He made many wonderful friendships that lasted for decades. During WWII Bobby volunteered for the Civil Air Patrol at a very young age. He was inspired by his father who enlisted in the Navy after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He was a member of his local church and taught Sunday school for many years.
After graduating from high school in May, 1949, he went to work at Champion Paper Mill here in Pasadena. In 1950, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country for four years, 1950-1954. After his service, he returned to Champion where he became a top-notch machinist and retired about four decades later. A few years later, he decided to go back to work and was employed by Gagemaker, here in Pasadena as a machinist. He worked for some years before retiring for good around 2004.
“Bobby O” met and married the love of his life, Betty Presswood in November of 1964. She was the cherished light of his days for about sixteen years, until her untimely passing as a result of severe illness. He maintained his faith in Jesus to guide him through these trying times. Bobby married Emma “Lou” Powers in April 1983. He then inherited a rather large family of five step-children and an increasing number of grandchildren through the years. At this time, he has six grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. They all adored their Great-Grandpa Bobby O and he would get so excited to see them when they came to visit. His face would light up with joy. Lou and Bobby had many loving years of companionship until her passing in September 2011.
"Bobby O" was an active fellow with high energy and enthusiasm for many years, up until the last few years of his life. After a full day of work, he would often work in his garden or other projects around his home. He was a “hands-on” guy who enjoyed making, building, improving and repairing things. His hobbies included bowling, square dancing, wood working, collecting and refinishing antique furniture and in later years, he became active in researching the genealogy of his family tree. And in much later years, he came to enjoy his easy chair more and watching old westerns on his big screen TV!
He is preceded in death by his parents; his older brother, Elmer, Jr.; and his two wives, as related above. Bobby O is survived by his brother’s daughters, Mary Jane Oglethorpe Evans and Judith Diane Oglethorpe Cox; as well as in-laws, cousins, step-children, grandchildren, great grandchildren by marriage and wonderful friends.
We will all mourn the loss of our “sweet old curmudgeon”, as we used to tease him about. But, we all know that he is in a better place now. We will miss that great sense of humor and wit he had and the way Bobby would greet you when you walked in to find him relaxing in his easy chair watching those old westerns he enjoyed so much. He would look up with a big warm smile and say “Hey, how are you doing? -Come right in here and have a seat!”
Graveside services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at Woodside Cemetery under the direction of Pasadena Funeral Chapel, Pasadena, TX.
God Bless You -"Bobby O"