Ormond Kelly Elam

ELAM, Ormond Kelly (O.K.), 94, went to heaven on Sunday, August 9, 2015, while peacefully resting in the arms of his wife of 77 years, Thelma Francis (Johnson), in their Liberty Township, OH home that they built together 60 years earlier.

Born in Perry County, KY on April 16, 1921 to Boyd Kelly & Mary (Dykes) Elam. He attended grade school in Mt. Sterling, KY where he first met his future wife, Thelma, before he went to serve in 1936 with the Civil Conservation Corp (CCC) in Idaho. Upon return they married on August 13, 1938 and started a family together.

In 1944, O.K. was called to serve in the South Pacific in WWII as a Seagoing Marine on the U.S.S. Monterey under the command of Admiral William Halsey. After returning home from the war, O.K. had several careers including 17 years at Wrenn Paper and first retired in 1984 from American Packaging where he worked for 10 years as the Plant Engineer. He held several patents for inventions that often started out as a sketch on a napkin and was always tinkering in his garage and barn. His wife describes him as a, “master of all.” O.K. felt a day was wasted if he hadn’t learned something new. At 83, he purchased his first computer so he could stay connected with family and search for “1942 Ford tractor parts”.

Together they built their ‘honeymoon cabin” on Elam Way, Lake Cumberland, KY, where they created loving memories and times of laughter with family and friends of Piney Grove Baptist Church. In addition, at 83, O.K. personally built onto the family home to accommodate gatherings for his growing family.

O.K. & Thelma always held hands during Sunday service at Bethany United Methodist Church where they have been members for 40 years. Faith, family, love and forgiveness were the keys to a long and fulfilling life for O.K.

He is survived by his loving wife, Thelma, son, Brentin Elam (Sandy) of NYC, daughter, Sharon Uttinger (Victor) of Middletown, OH, 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. He was predeceased by son, Terrence Elam (Cheryl) in 1993, siblings Garrett Elam, Jean Tallerico, Irene Lewis and Ruth Heaton.

Anyone that had the great pleasure of meeting O.K., had a life forever positively impacted.

The visitation will be held at Bethany United Methodist Church, 6388 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Liberty Township, OH 45044 on Saturday, August 15, 2015 from 10-11 am, funeral to immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to Little Lambs Preschool of Bethany UMC.