Robert Lewis Kelley, affectionately known as "Bobby Lou" to all his family, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2023, at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Margaret Kelley, his children Doug (Suzi), Jeff, Susan (Steve), and Greg, his grandchildren Aaron (Sarah), Nathan (Colleen), Lauren (Josh), Tyler, and Michael, his great-grandchildren Zoe, Cooper, Colin, Sophia, Bodhi, Caleb, and Cora, and countless family and friends whom he dearly loved.

Bob was born on July 27, 1928, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and was raised on a farm where he learned the value of hard work. He graduated with perfect attendance from Patriot High School in 1946. The day after graduation at the age of 17, Bob joined the Navy. He spent the next two years on board the U.S.S. Harkness.

Upon returning home, he joined the Army and was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he trained to become a paratrooper. He served in the 187th RCT of the 82nd Airborne Division. In October 1950, Bob was part of the first and largest-scale combat mission in the Korean War and would earn several medals and badges, including 4 Bronze Service Stars. He never spoke about his experiences in Korea, but he came home a changed man.

In 1953, Bob met the love of his life at a dance club in Cincinnati. After a two-year courtship, he married Margaret Moloney in October 1955. The couple would reside in Cincinnati, raising their four children before moving to Lebanon, Ohio, in the early 70s.

While in Cincinnati, Bob shot newsreels for WLW, WKRC, and International Press, where he met Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson, countless professional athletes, and celebrities. It was on one of these assignments—the filming of the Sesquicentennial of the Golden Lamb—that Bob considered moving his family to Lebanon, Ohio.

Bob was also a photographer and built a darkroom in the basement of his home, teaching his children how to develop film. He never went anywhere without his camera. He took thousands of pictures of friends and family, with several pictures being published in Children's House and Life Magazine. He shot weddings and did aerial photos, always taking one of his children along for the experience.

Bob was a member of the Cincinnati Ski Club and eventually taught all four children to snow ski, taking them to the mountains of Vermont, Michigan, and New York to challenge their skills.

Bob was unique and lived his life like an adventure. He could do anything he set his mind to doing and instilled this philosophy in the lives of his children. He loved music and would fill the atmosphere in his home with everything from Big Band, Blues to Bluegrass to Country, Folk, Jazz & Rock. He especially liked the Beatles and loved to accompany this music with his guitar.

One of Bob's ambitions was to own his own business, and that became a reality when he purchased the Lebanon Dairy Queen, adding a "Drive-Thru" and sponsoring several ball teams.

In his retirement to Rocky Fork Lake, where he and Margaret lived for 22 years, he formed a band and played music for years at senior centers, retirement homes, and sweetheart dances. Ten of those 22 years were spent researching his family roots, which resulted in his first published book, "The Scotts of Hominy Ridge."

Bob never met a stranger, he could talk to anyone about anything at any time.  He loved people and loved life and he lived it to the fullest.

Visitation, Thursday, April 6, 2023 from 10 AM-12 PM with a service at 12 PM all at Countryside Church of the Nazarene.  Pastor Lester Jones officiating. Interment will follow in Turtlecreek Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Disabled American Veterans.  Arrangements made by the Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home, Lebanon.