Obituaries - Death Notices - Funeral Cards

May 4, 1933, Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio

MRS. ALICE KATE OGLESBY DIES AT RESIDENCE HERE AT 7:45 WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Decedant Was Leader in Social and Religious Circles for Years
    Another home on South Main Street, long known for as the thoroughfare of Middletown's socially prominent and most distinquished families, is touched by sorrow as Mrs. Alice Kate Ogelsby, widow of Charles Barnitz Ogelsby, passes.
    After living in a coma for two days, the tired body of the once vigorous woman, whose character has long radiated throughout the city and dominated social circles of Middletown, resigned itself to time. Mrs. Ogelsby was 83 years of age at the time of her death, the end coming Wednesday night at 7:45 o'clock at her own home on South Main Street.
    Mrs. Ogelsby died as she lived -- with the eyes of Middletown upon her home, famous in former years for the generous hospitality that made her one of the most distinguished hostesses of the county. Her favor was sought throughout the Miami Valley, not only for the prestige of her own and her husband's families, but for her own charming personality.
    Her social regime was in a time when shiny carriages, drawn by black horses and bearing sumptuously-gowned woman and silk-hatted men, rolled up to and away from the Oglesby door where a friendly welcome was always waiting a legion of friends.
    Mrs. Ogelsby, like her husband, was of honorable forebears and in her were inoulcated all of the estimable traits that arouse pleasant memories on mention of her name. She was a daughter of William and Sarah Van Cleve Dickey, sturdy pioneers, whose deeds are still recorded in the growth of Butler County and whose homestead still stands in Amanda. It was after the removal of her parents to Dayton that Mrs. Ogelsby was born.
    Her father, imbued with initiative and courage in every new project, became interested in the Miami and Erie Canal and conducted a line of packet canal boats between Cincinnati and Toledo for a number of years. During these years of business industry and activity he amassed considerable wealth and in 1850 became a private banker. Subsequently, he was one of the organizers of the Miami Valley Bank and numerous other business enterprises. He was also organizer of the Ohio Insurance Company and was its president until death.
Mrs. Ogelsby was always proud of the fact that her aunt, Mrs. Adam Dickey, the former Miss Mary McKee, of Pennsylvania, was a cousin of General George Washington, and through the family connections were strong, came with her husband to Cincinnati, then Fort Washington, in 1790. Mrs Ogelsby loved to retell the story of how her spirited early American ancestors came in flatboats down the Ohio river to make their home in the growing west.
    It was from these forefathers that she inherited her sound judgment, kindness of heart, modest manner and graciousness.
    Mr. Ogelsby, her husband, was of equally distinguished ancestors. It was his father, William B. Ogelsby, who founded the Ogelsby and Barnitz Bank and Trust Company, which today is a sound monument to the frugality, integrity, caution and prudence of any financiers. Charles Barnitz, his associate in the banking business, became president of the bank in the intervening years after the retirement of William Ogelsby and the succession of his son Charles Barnitz Ogelsby, as the title head of the company.
    This appointment came in 1896, nine years after the removal of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Barnitz Ogelsby from Chicago. Mr. Ogelsby married Alice Kate Dickey in 1871, moving to Chicago where the birth of their only son, William D. Oglesby took place.
    It was in 1884 that they came to Middletown where Mrs. Oglesby already had many friends from childhood due to the prominence her parents and grandparents had enjoyed before her in Butler County. From that time the Ogelsby home on South Main Street has been a traditional center of hospitality and the scene of promoting some of the most vital history-making transactions of Middletown.
    She was an active friend of all things cultural, one of her recent delights being the interests of the Middletown Music Club. Mrs. Ogelsby was an honorary member of the organization and enthusiastic over its programs.
Mrs. Ogelsby was an unswerving Christian, a devout member of the First Presbyterian Church and until her death a regular attendant at church services. She was affiliated with the Woman's Society of the church and until several other organizations merged with it, an affiliate of all units.
    The one son, William D. Ogelsby, two grandsons Robert Dickey Ogelsby and Charles Farquer Ogelsby, and one great grandson William Barnitz Ogelsby, survive. Funeral services will be conducted by Dr. George M. Gordon of the First Presbyterian Church Saturday afternoon at the residence. Burial will be made in Woodside Cemetery. Friends are asked to omit flowers.

March 16, 2001  Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio

Mary Oglesby
Mrs. Mary Comminos Oglesby, 76, of Middletown, passed away Wednesday evening, March 14, 2001, at Middletown Regional Hospital. She was born in Middletown on June 23, 1924, a daughter of Steve and Lillie (Kourges) Comminos. She was a registered nurse and began her career at Middletown Regional Hospital as a supervisor in the private corridor. She then worked for several years as a surgical nurse for Dr. Kenneth Smith, and later, as an industrial nurse for Diamond International Co. She was a member of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Surviving are a sister, Georgia Comminos, with whom she resided; a brother, George Comminos of Middletown; a nephew, Steven Comminos; and great-nephews, Steven, Billy and Donny. She was preceded in death by her parents; by her first husband, Karl Brown in 1961; her second husband, August Oglesby in 1986; and her children, Gregory and Stephanie.
ARRANGEMENTS: Friends may call today, March 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with prayer services at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Rev. Dr. Christos B. Christakis will officiate. Burial will follow in Woodside Cemetery.
MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, 2500 Grand Ave., Middletown 45044.