My Dad, Leighton Riley Goble, was born on December 7, 1924 in Oakley, KS and passed from this earthly home at 8:15 a.m. this morning on January 30, 2015, in Oklahoma City, OK. He was a quiet man, unless we were telling jokes, dignified and the nicest man I have ever known. I miss him terribly. My Dad was one of 11 children, 8 boys and 3 girls. He always told us that the reason he went into the Army was to get something to eat.

Dad joined the Army on November 26, 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater, and was honorably discharged on January 13, 1946.

Our family started when Dad returned from WWII and took a job as a bus driver for the Monument, KS school system. My Mom, Mrytle Oma Gibson, was going to school there and apparently rode on his bus. They were married from January 22, 1947 until my mother passed away in 1994. They had four children, Julie Stanford and husband AJ of Oklahoma City, OK, Janell Carlile of Shawnee, OK, Lois and husband Marion Blankinship of Glenco, OK, and Jerry and wife Suzanne Goble of Santee, CA. Then came 6 grandchildren: Anthony Stanford, Kyle Blankinship, Makala Carlile, Charles Tessman, Danny Goble, and Rick Goble. Then came the 6 great grandchildren and the fun really began. And these were Dad's treasures. He worked with wood and made dolly rocking chairs, Xmas churches, water wheels for little ponds, to whatever, show him a picture and he could make it.

Dad never had any formal training past 8th grade and a GED, but he could do anything. He worked as a farmer, road construction, welding, heavy machine operator, aluminum siding installer and a park ranger just to name a few. He could fix anything from cars, trucks, plumbing, machinery, even broken toys and every now and then a skinned knee or a young girl's broken heart.

Dad loved to dance! I mean who knew. Who would have imagined this quiet man would get out there glide around the floor like he was taking lessons. Oh and he did charm all the ladies. He went to the senior citizen center and the VFW 3 or 4 times a week. He served and helped clean when the VFW had special functions or dinners. Wouldn't go to the Senior Citizens Center to eat meals because that was for the OLD people. He was in his 80's then.

Dad was a member of the American Legion and I think that his proudest moments were when he was in the Honor Guard for Veteran burials. When we talked about these events, it was always with reverence, he would worry about the Honor Guard being dignified and doing everything correctly.

Dad enjoyed seeing the grandkids, taking trips with the grandkids, and he and mom taking the RV to the Arizona desert in the winter. There he could walk for hours just looking under rocks.

Dad was preceded in death by his mother and father, W.B. and Myrtle Hicks Goble, his brothers: Lawerence, Lyle, Lee, Louis, and Loyd Goble; two sisters: Thelma Stoecker and Alva Goble.

He is survived by brothers Lyman of Las Vegas, NV and Lorne and his wife Gloria of Livingston, MT, and a sister Betty and husband Joe Hickman of Ft. Morgan, CO.

His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren also survive him. Along with friends, neighbors, nieces, and nephews to numerous to mention here, but all loved by Dad.

Dad has requested a small family graveside service in Monument, Kansas, where he will be laid to rest beside his wife Oma of 47 years. On February 4, 2015 services were held at the Monument Township Cemetery with military honors by the U.S. Army of Ft. Riley, KS and the V.F.W. Post 2981 of Oakley Kansas.

Graveside service: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 4 at Monument Township Cemetery, with military honors by U.S. Army and Oakley VFW Post 2981. Visitation: Wednesday 9 – 10:30 at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley. Memorials to Monument Township Cemetery Fund may be sent to the funeral home, PO Box 221, Oakley, KS 67748. www.kennedykosterfh.com