Reginald B Unseld

Reginald B. Unseld, age 77 of Louisville, Kentucky passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2024.  Reginald “Lou” Unseld was the fifth of seven children born to Charles and Cornelia Unseld, in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 4, 1947. He was a quiet and strong man with a dry wit. Our gentle giant.  He was raised in Newburg, where he attended Newburg Elementary School and Seneca Junior High. He was a proud graduate of the class of 1965 at Seneca High School, where he excelled in sports. Lou participated in track, football, baseball, wrestling and basketball, lettering in four of those. While in high school, he honed his carpentry and bricklaying skills by working with his father and brothers. In his early twenties, he also served as a Deputy Constable for Jefferson County. 

It should be noted that the excitement of designing, building, and visiting lumber stores (84 Lumber and Home Depot) was not lost on his daughter Stephanie and a few of her children. There was a shared love of creating, as well as a tool fascination, which was prevalent. As a matter of fact, Lou would often help his daughters and grandchildren design all manner of things, including science projects, furniture, craft projects and a huge backyard playhouse. He was the ultimate girl dad! 

Early into his time at Morehead University, he received his draft card to enter the Vietnam War. Knowing that he always wanted to be a member of the United States Marine Corps, under advisement, Lou left his card unopened and turned it over to the recruitment officer. While at Paris Island, the Drill Instructors Screening Team selected him to join the Drill Instructor course. Divine rearrangement occurred and the powers that be noticed his athletic prowess. It was then that the USMC chose to utilize his talents for the Corps basketball team, which let him travel the world in competition. Following the end of the basketball season, he was assigned to the Marine Aviation Training Support Group.

During his time in service, he received these honors:

• National Defense Service Medal
• All Marine Basketball Team Certificate
• Good Conduct Medal
• Meritorious Mast for Outstanding Degree of Initiative, Enthusiasm and Dedication of Duty from the Marine Aviation Training Support Group

Following his retirement from the United States Marine Corps, he entered the workforce. Lou worked for Kroger, Naval Ordinance, and the United States Post Office, from which he would retire. He was raised by a Catholic father and Presbyterian mother. After moving to Prospect, KY, his mother joined Green Castle Baptist Church. After several visits, Lou decided that was the place for him. While there, he joined the usher ministry and was known for ringing the bell to begin service. In addition, he faithfully enjoyed attending service and bible study. When he could no longer attend in person, he viewed the online Sunday services and Wednesday night bible study. 

Lou met his future wife, Barbara King, in 1961, when her family moved four doors down from the Unseld house. In order to get to other locations, you had to walk past many homes, which contained adolescent young boys. Those fellows had no problem taunting girls with childhood insults and rock throwing. This included Lou. 

Eight years later, it dawned on Lou that Barbara was no longer a little girl. At the time, she was dating one of his close friends and he decided a change had to be made. He made his move and let her know that she would be better off with him than his friend. They were married in May of 1972. Their union would produce two January babies, Stephanie (1975) and Monica (1980). 

Reg, who could only be called that by his mother and wife, was an involved and loving family man. He loved playing Santa Claus for his children, nieces and nephews when they were young. After traveling around the world in the Marine Corps, he enjoyed traveling around the United States when he returned. He never missed an opportunity to visit family and friends, wherever they lived, including Maryland, Missouri, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio and Alabama. Vacations were always special and taken every summer. Trips included five visits to Disney World and all the other family spots in Orlando, Tampa, the Kennedy Space Center (witnessed one of the launches!), multiple trips to Canada and the Niagara Falls area, Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, Ocean City, Maryland and the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. 

Family vacations were enjoyable, but he particularly loved the family reunions. One particular vacation was the 1997 Unseld Family Reunion Bus Tour where all the members of the family met in Louisville, KY. The sight of the big reunion bus pulling up in front of Lou’s house was a shock for the neighbors. The trip included a cruise in the St. Lawence Seaway, a tour of the Thousand Islands, and stops in Ontario, Montreal, Watertown, New York and Maryland, before returning to Louisville. Having a family full of educators, made the trip both educational and fun. He was pleased to be able to attend the last Unseld Reunion in 2021. It featured visits in the DC area and a delicious lunch at the historic Sabitino’s Italian restaurant, in Little Italy. The best time was had when the family convened at his niece Kim’s Bed & Breakfast. She provided horseback riding, a video game truck and a small, educational, but fun, traveling zoo. The most amazing, and bottomless comfort food, was enjoyed for two days. One of the most poignant events was the remembrance ceremony where we honored, and shared stories, of all those who had gone before. 

Education was also particularly important to Lou. He was enormously proud of the accomplishments of his wife, daughters and grandkids. He was frequently in attendance at school programs, including academic events, musical recitals, competitions, sporting events, presentations, graduations, and end-of-year homeschool celebrations. He was especially proud when his daughter Monica received her Doctorate. He often wore his “My Daughter Has Her Ph.D.” shirt. He was also proud to see his oldest grandchild enter college. 

An inquisitive and self-taught man, Lou loved reading DIY, computer and mechanical books. When it came to television, you could be guaranteed it would be one of these: Westerns, the “Weather Channel,” “Andy Griffith,” “Star Trek” (Original, TNG and Voyager), “This Old House,” UofL sports and following any NBA or college team associated with his brother, niece or nephews. He passed down his sense of wonder of the world, and universe, to his daughters and grandchildren. During his lifetime, he enjoyed all manner of animal shows, especially the ones made by “National Geographic.” This, in addition to his love of science, was shared with his daughter Monica and a few of his grandkids. Computers were his passion! He never met one he couldn’t take apart, repair and rebuild again. The same could be said for any vehicle and household project! He was our personal MacGyver. If you needed anything, call Dad! He also loved taking care of a menagerie of pets from his youth, which continued when he became a Dad. They included a horse, monkey, parakeet, fish, hamsters, a turtle, and dogs. 

Being a Grandpa to his five grandchildren, two grand-dogs and two grand-cats, brought him joy!  He never missed an opportunity to spoil them rotten, just as he did for his daughters. 

He was preceded in death by his parent Charles and Cornelia S. Unseld, and siblings Sandra Austin, George Unseld, Charles-Jean Clemons and Westley Unseld. 

While in rehab, Lou was proud to cast his vote for Kamala Harris for President of the United States.

He will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 52 years, Barbara; Daughters Monica Unseld, Ph.D., MPH, Stephanie Engleman (Grayson Sr.); Grandchildren, Grayson Jr, Noah, Bennett, Isabelle and Noelle Engleman; Grand-dogs, Daisy and Jazz; Grand-cats, Ripley and Luna; Siblings, Robert Unseld Sr., Isaac Unseld (Pamela), Larry Bedford, Steve Bedford; nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. They all loved him and will miss him. 

Visitation will be from 10am to 12pm on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals and Receptions, East Louisville Chapel, 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, Kentucky 40243, with a celebration of Reginald's life at 12pm there.  Burial will follow at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff, Kentucky at 2:30pm with military honors.

Memorials may be made to: The Green Castle Baptist Church Scholarship Fund, 4970 Murphy Lane, Louisville, KY 40241 or Until Justice Data Partners (www.untiljusticedatapartners.org).

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