Virginia "Ginny" M. Olson (nee Larson), 87, of Lakewood, N.Y., passed away Sunday (July 8, 2012) in the Heritage Green Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility.
A lifelong area resident, she was born Sept. 4, 1924, in Jamestown, N.Y., the daughter of the late Dewey and Myrna (nee Spencer) Larson.
She graduated as salutatorian of her class of Lake-wood High School in 1941. She also earned her Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and English from Alfred University, and her Master of Arts in mathematics from Kent State University. Virginia also briefly taught English to returning World War II Veterans and worked in the math department at Duke University before becoming a housewife.
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Virginia “Ginny” M. Olson (nee Larson)
She will be remembered as a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother and will be remembered as a loving daughter who cared for her mother, Myrna, at home until her death at the age of 102.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Dr. Frank R. Olson, whom she married Aug. 18, 1950, and who died Jan. 1, 1986.
She is survived by her son, Randall Olson and wife, Lee Ann (nee Frank); two grandchildren: Meredith and Marissa Olson of Yorkville, Ill.; her brother, Vern Larson of Jamestown, N.Y.; nieces: Sandra (Gerald) Barton of Randolph and Laurie (George) Meier of Lakewood; great-niece, Deborah Barton of Lakewood; cousins: Jane Johnson of Erie, Pa., and Jack and Janet Abbott of Warren, Pa.; sister-in-law, Patricia V. Olson of Germantown, Md.; nephew, Harding "Tad" Olson (Doreen) of Gaithersburg, Md.; great-niece, Laura Olson of Gaithersburg, Md.; and great-nephew, Greg Olson of Parkville, Md.
A private funeral service will be held Friday, July 13, 2012, at the convenience of the family at the Lind Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery.
The family asks that contributions be made to the Frank R. Olson Memorial Mathematics Scholarship Fund at the State University of New York at Fredonia, 272 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14063. The fund commemorates Dr. Frank R. Olson, who served as chairman of the department of mathematics at SUNY Fredonia from 1967 to 1982. Dr. Olson was born in Sweden, and raised in Jamestown, N.Y. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Alfred University, his Master of Arts in mathematics from Kent State University and his Ph.D in mathematics from Duke University. The scholarship recognizes students in the mathematics program who have achieved exceptional academic success. Preference is given to students from Chautauqua County, NY.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Virginia at www.lindfuneralhome.com.
