Blanche Oglesby
Blanche Oglesby
Blanche Oglesby

Obituary of Blanche Pearl Gunckel Oglesby

Blanche Pearl Gunckel Oglesby was born on September 11, 1924. She passed away peacefully on October 16, 2021 at the age of 97.

Blanche was one of two children born to James and Mattie Jones in Live Oak, FL. She was a lifetime Floridian. She married Ray Herbert Gunckel in Jacksonville, FL on February 24, 1945. He proposed to her on their first date and on every date thereafter until she accepted. In 1959, they moved to Ocala when Ray bought the Ocala radio station, WTMC. After 35 years of marriage, Ray died in 1980. Blanche met Air Force Retired Lieutenant Colonel Obed “O.B.” Oglesby and in 1981, they married. After 32 years of marriage, O.B. died in 2014. Blanche always said she was blessed with two wonderful husbands and led a wonderful life.

She was known to all her family as “Nanny” and was a lifelong Christian who instilled those values into her family. She was a member of the Ocala First United Methodist Church and loved traditional gospel hymns. She dedicated herself to her family but also loved to play contract bridge, golf and bingo, ballroom and square dancing, sewing, walking on the beach and traveling the US with her two husbands and grandchildren in a motor home. For the last 39 years, Blanche walked two miles a day until she could no longer at 96 years of age. Her advice to everyone was “Don’t Get Old!”

Blanche is survived by her wonderful cat, Toby, who she rescued for O.B., but ended up being HER best friend. She is also survived by her daughters, Rita Gunckel McNeal Swain of Ocala and Barbara Gunckel Mascari (KJ) of Gainesville; step children, Stephanie Phillips of Champaign, IL and Butch Oglesby of Stewartstown, PA; grandchildren, Raymond J. McNeal (Rhonda) of Ocala, Christopher S. McNeal (Theresa) of Tampa, Damon Mascari of Gainesville and Dana Mascari of Alexandria, MN; and great grandchildren, Katlyn and Breanna McNeal of Ocala and Collin and Conner McNeal of Tampa. Blanche was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ethel Seitz, and both her husbands.

A celebration of her life well lived will be held at the Ocala First United Methodist Church, 1126 East Silver Springs Blvd., on November 20, 2021 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow the service. Donations and memorial gifts can be made to the Ocala First United Methodist Church.

 

If you are unable to attend the service, you can watch remotely at this link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/5130114326

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A Memorial Tree was planted for Blanche
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