Richard Lee Ogletree passed away peacefully at his residence in Warrenton Missouri, surrounded by family on August 16th, 2020.
He was born in South Bend, Indiana on February 5, 1931 to Lee “Socttie” Ogletree and Dora Cunningham Ogletree. The major portion of his early years was spent near Sherman Texas. He graduated high school from Malvern (AR) High School.
A few years later, he met the love of his life, Emmy Cirilo Ogletree. They were married on December 17, 1952, having been married nearly 68 years at the time of his death. He attended what was then Ouachita Baptist College. After attaining his Bachelor’s degree he relocated his young family to Hamburg Arkansas. There, he began a long career in education, primarily in the Hamburg Public School System. He taught seventh and eighth-grade science and tenth-grade biology as well as serving as Assistant Junior High Principal.
He also exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit, developing and owning several businesses, including Hamburg Trim Shop, Hamburg Motor Supply, Automotive Machine and Specialty Company, and AMS antiques.
A proud American, he was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving during the Korean War. He was also a member of the American Legion of Hamburg. Other civic activities included being a charter member and serving as the first president for the Hamburg Chapter of Optimists International.
Very active in several churches, he served as a member of the Board and as Sunday School Superintendent for the First United Methodist Church of Hamburg. He was Vice President of the Christian Life Fellowship Board of Directors and played a very active role in their summer camp ministry. He was a co-founder of the Abiding Faith Christian School, as well serving as President of their Board. He was also a Gideon, taking very seriously the call to provide Bibles to as many as possible.
He was an avid automobile enthusiast and enjoyed restoring antique cars. When he was not working on a car or traveling on one of his numerous road trips, he could often be found fishing in one of his many favorite spots.
Certainly among the pastimes most important to him was spending time with his family. He enjoyed laughing and making others laugh. He loved sharing stories. Mostly he just liked being near those he loved. Having a tremendous capacity to love, he was not hesitant to express these feelings to those around him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother William B. Ogletree, a sister Glenna Ogletree Elliott, and a foster sister Kathy Elliott.
Survivors include his wife, Emmy Cirilo Ogletree; one daughter Cynthia “Cindy” Lynn Ogletree Trotter (Calvin) of Warrenton, Mo; two sons, Richard Lee Ogletree, Jr (Amba) of Madison, MS, and Alan Gregory Ogletree of Hamburg. He had ten grandchildren, Glenna Lynn Jacola (David) of Ocala FL; Emily Jo Hodgson (Luke) of Warrenton, MO; Danielle Ogletree Lynch (Logan) of Jonesboro AR; Greg Ogletree of Beijing China; Elizabeth Sprick (Matthew) of Portland OR; Avery Cameron Ogletree of Madison, MS; Marshall Ogletree of Monticello, AR; Jeremy Ogletree of Bozeman MT; Garrett Ogletree (Cathy Ramsey) of Monticello AR and Murphy Ogletree of Nashville, TN. He is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Additionally, he will be remembered fondly by many students and campers, as well as those to whom he gave Bibles and those to whom he served as a witness and an example of how to be a follower of Jesus.
A Graveside service will be held at the Hamburg Cemetery Friday, August 21 at 10:00 a.m.
There will be a Celebration of Life in Richard’s Honor, Friday Afternoon August, 21 at 2:00 in the afternoon at Church of the Redeemer in Hamburg Arkansas for friends and family who wish to honor and remember him.
