Kila Blanche Englebrook

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Kila Blanche Englebrook, age 96, who departed this life on September 26, 2026. Born on August 4, 1930, in a log cabin on Brush Mountain in Bell County, Kentucky. Kila lived a rich and vibrant life filled with love, faith, and cherished family moments.

Kila spent her early years in the Hensley Settlement, a thriving pioneer style community that instilled in her the values of self-sufficiency and resilience. Moving to Cincinnati at the age of 11, she transitioned from her childhood home to a bustling city life, where she continued her education at Hughes High School. It was here in Cincinnati that she met her husband, Donald Englebrook, a pilot for TWA. The two married three months later, beginning a beautiful journey together that would span 59 years before his passing.

As a mother, Kila took great pride in raising her four children: Safiyah DeMartino, Marshall Englebrook, Kila Roffler, and Donna Englebrook. Over the years, she nurtured an environment of love, and faith, becoming a strong figure to her 19 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.

Kila was not only a dedicated mother but also a nutrition counselor in the Rhode Island Department of Health, as well as a certified nurse aide in Ohio, whose compassionate nature touched many lives in the healthcare field. For 37 years, beginning in 1985 she lived in Colerain Township later moving to Butler County where she spent her last few years at Gateway Springs Health Campus. She found joy in gardening, square dancing competition in the Tri-State area, and singing hymns that reflected her deep Christian faith. Her easygoing demeanor, stylish spirit, and kindness endeared her to all who knew her.

Kila will be remembered for her love of family gatherings, especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas, where her homemade lemon meringue pie and banana pudding became family favorites. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of those she loved as they recall the sounds of Patsy Cline, the hollers and mountains of Southeastern Kentucky and the sights of Cincinnati, which will forever remind them of her.

Visitation and Graveside services will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Arlington Memorial Gardens Funeral Home and Gardens. Friends and family are encouraged to come together to celebrate her life, share fond memories, and honor her loving spirit. A reception will follow the service, providing a space for all to gather and reminisce about the joyful moments shared with Kila.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Gateway Springs Health Campus – Alzheimer’s Association Team Walk https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2026/OH-GreaterCincinnati?pg=team&team_id=1051310&fr_id=19835 or Queen City Hospice https://queencityhospice.com/donate/, reflecting Kila’s lifelong commitment to helping others.

Kila Blanche Englebrook’s warmth, kindness, and unwavering faith will be profoundly missed, but her memory will forever remain a guiding light to all who loved her.

Kila was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Elizabth Hensley, her beloved husband, Donald Englebrook, and her brothers, Harvey Hensley, Harold Hensley, Kenneth Hensley, and Otis Hensley.