XENIA — William Kenneth Halsey, age 78, passed away on Friday, April 11,2014 at St. Mary's Hospital, in Grand Junction CO. He was born on April 23, 1935 in Ft. Wayne IN to Mark Thomas Halsey and Ida Louise (Schindler) Halsey. Bill grew up in Xenia, OH and graduated from Xenia Central High in 1953. He attended the University of Dayton and joined the U.S. Army in 1954. He served in the Army and Air Force, with honorable discharge in 1961. Bill had many occupations during his lifetime, mostly driving a taxi cab. During his Army tenure, Bill attended the Army Language School in El Presidio CA, and learned the Russian language. He served mostly in Berlin, Germany as a Russian Language Radio Interpreter. Bill was also proficient in all Slavic Languages and even invented one of his own, based on Yugoslavian dialects. He had a working knowledge of most European languages. Bill never married, but was very close to his nieces and nephews. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing, and was an astute and witty person. He had lots of friends, including caregivers, during his last 3 years. He never asked much out of life, but lived the way he wanted… leisurely. He appreciated good wine and beer, good food, good friends and a "well-turned ankle". Bill was preceded in death by his parents; and is survived by his brother, Don Halsey, of Clifton, CO; his sisters, Sharon Louise Cave, of Virginia Beach, VA; and Mary Jean Parry, of Phoenix, AZ. as well as his nieces and nephews, Kim Larsson, of Phoenix, AZ; Lora Adams, of Grand Junction, CO; Kameron Cultice, of Cumming GA; Joseph Parry, of Colorado Springs, CO; Matthew and Mark Cave, of Virginia Beach, VA; Charles Halsey, of Springboro, OH; Teresa Turpin, of West Alexandria, OH; Gena Halsey, of Palisade, CO; Greg Halsey, of Camdenton, MO; and 9 grand-nephews and grand-nieces. Services were entrusted to Mesa Funeral Service and cremation has already taken place. A short memorial service is planned for a later date.