Colonel Ziba Bennitt Ogden, USAF, (Ret.), 80, of Bradenton, died on Friday, September 3, 2004, at Blake Memorial Hospital.
He was born Feb. 10, 1924 in Cambridge, MA. He was a graduate of Kent School, UCLA, and the Air War College, and took formal courses in the B24, the KC-135, the H-13,
the Atlas F. ICBM, and the B-52. Col. Ogden proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for 27 years and was awarded the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross,
the Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, both Air Force and Army Commendation Medals, the European Theater Ribbon with 5 Battlestars, and numerous other decorations.
A command pilot with over 70 combat missions during World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam era; he earned the Missile Badge for service as Commander/Deputy Commander
of the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron. He retired as Base Commander at Castle Air Force Base in 1969. During his service he flew bombers, tankers, transports, reconnaissance aircraft,
helicopters, and other miscellaneous airplanes. Since his retirement in 1969, he has been active in politics and business. He is a member of Christ Episcopal Church, the Republican Party, the
Order of Daedalians, the Pilot Class of 1944, the 15th Air Force Association, the 450th Bomb Group Association, and the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron Association.
He is a member of the Bradenton Yacht Club and the Palma Sola Bay Yacht Club. He was the grandson of General Marcus J. Wright, CSA, and the son of Lt. General David A. D. Ogden and
Pauline Bennitt Wright Ogden. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Jane Maudlin Ogden; five daughters, all of Bradenton: Anne Melton (John), Mary Meads, Jane Ogden (Dick Hunt),
Elizabeth Escobar (Alfredo), and Cynthia Wettstein (Ted); his brother David A. D. Ogden (Frances) of Mercer Island, WA.;
16 grandchildren: Pauline Barnes (Lee), Jennifer Snyderman (Jon), Katie Fradley (Chuck), Chris Melton (Mardee), Michael Meads, Mark Meads (Shanon), Nacole Melton, Jebb Melton,
Mary Jane Wettstein, Nicholas Wettstein, David Escobar, Emily Wettstein, Sophia Wettstein, Elizabeth Hunt, Peter Escobar, Andrew Escobar; and 9 great grandchildren.
Burial with military honors was at Mansion Memorial Cemetery in Ellenton, Florida
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