Donald Wallace Olson
May 3, 1930 - June 9, 2011
Obituary
Donald Wallace Olson, age 81, passed away peacefully in Federal Way on Thursday, June 9, 2011. He was born in Tacoma, WA on May 3, 1930, to parents Wallace and Edythe Olson. Donald was a 1948 graduate of Highline High School and led them to the state basketball tournament. He graduated from Eastern Washington State College which he attended on a basketball scholarship. He honorably served in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in New Orleans. Donald coached and played for Kirk’s Pharmacy basketball team was a longtime salesman for Northwest Envelope Co., a member of the Seattle Seafair Commodores and Spokane Lilac Festival. His passion was sports. He rooted for Washington State University and was a member of the Cougar Club of Spokane during the Jim Sweeney era. Donald loved Frank Sinatra. His favorite song was ‘My Way’ and that is how he lived his life.
Don is survived by his sons, Kyle and Kent Olson; daughters, Kim Brad Severns and Kay Lynn Mel Oltman; five grandchildren, Lea Josh Wallace, Hailey Lynn Oltman, Colin Severns, Austin Oltman and Madison Oltman and his close friends at DJ’s. Committal Services will be held at the Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA. Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:30 pm.
Goodbye to an old Highline classmate and the bestman at our wedding in 1958.
Our paths never crossed after graduation, but classmates are not forgotten.
i have been a bartender at diamond jims for almost 10 years.don had been a regular for some time.i remember trying to win points with him during football season.it was my first week working their,and i had kept tracked of every game,who played,who won,and the score.he walked in4pm his every day timei was ready,if i was a dog my tail would of been waggin.oh yeah major points.i rattled it all out,he listened then he said “why you bother it will be in the paper tomarrow’ well i really thought my feelings were hurt,but they were not once i saw that sheepish smile of his.don 10 kelly 0,knowing him,priceless. ill never forget u uncle don,i love u.