Kenneth Gene Oliver

Kenneth Gene (Ken) Oliver, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) USA, of Georgetown, TX, passed away on January 19th, 2012. He was 81. Ken was born March 13, 1930 in Wetumka, Oklahoma, the second son of Jasper Hugh Oliver, and Lou Evalena Walls Oliver, an original enrollee of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He and his older brother, Tom, grew up in Oklahoma and New Mexico. Ken graduated from Hobbs High School in Hobbs, New Mexico, went to work in the Phillips Oil Refineries, and then enlisted in the New Mexico National Guard to finance his music studies at Oklahoma University. While at OU, his brother, Tom, introduced him to another OU band member, Marion Lee Giblet, of Oklahoma City. They were married in December 1950. Ken’s active military career began in 1951 when he was commissioned a 2d Lieutenant, in the Military Police Corps. And so began Ken and Marion’s life together thru 9 duty stations and 13 family moves, including a tour with SHAPE Headquarters in Versailles, France, in Germany during the Berlin Crisis, and Vietnam. Their first son, Bryan, was born in Oklahoma, first daughter, Lou Ann, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Samuel and Katy in Versailles, France, Thomas Wade in Germany, and Kenneth Craig, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Ken retired from the Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas after 24 years of active service, beginning a new career in the field of Corrections. His first work was in consulting, then as Superintendent of the Kansas State Reformatory in Hutchinson, Warden of the State Penitentiary in Lansing, and finally as Deputy Director of Corrections for the State of Kansas, before retiring again in 1983 and eventually moving back to Texas. An avid outdoorsman, competitive marksman, and antique firearms collector, Ken instilled in his own children a joy of adventure, good sportsmanship, tolerance, and appreciation of American History. His example, together with Marion’s grace and strength, raised six children to respect service to country, and cherish their strength of faith and family. He personally swore into the Armed Forces three of his sons. Another still pursues a successful career in law enforcement. His daughters have raised their own families with the same grace and strength that, along with their brothers, has produced a total of 9 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Ken is survived by his wife, Marion, of Georgetown, TX, his brother, Thomas Marion Oliver of Lamesa, TX, his sons, Bryan and wife, Jane of St. Louis, Samuel and wife, Ann, of Killeen, TX, Thomas Wade and wife, Marianne of Norco, CA, Kenneth Craig and wife, Anna, of Lawrence, KS, and two daughters, Lou Ann and husband Dean Didde, of Liberty Hill, TX, Katy and husband, Robert Colvin, of Lansing, KS. Ken will be interred in the Texas Veterans Cemetery on February 3, with a private family gathering. Donations in his honor may be made to the Salvation Army.