Martha Lucille Olson

Martha Lucille (Strack) Olson, age 89, of Roberta, Georgia, formerly of Warner Robins, passed quietly at Houston Medical Center, Thursday, September 3, 2009, following a brief illness.

Mrs. Olson was born in DeKalb, Illinois, November 15, 1919 and grew up a farmer's daughter. She attended school in a one-room schoolhouse through the 8th grade, before going to Sycamore High School, Sycamore, Illinois. She traveled to nearby counties giving dramatic readings, and once thought she might like to pursue a career on the stage. She met her husband-to-be, Virgil Olson, through a blind date in 1934 and married him September 9, 1938. They had four children, three girls and a boy, and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last fall.

The family made 15 moves during the course of Virgil Olson's Air Force career, ending up at Robins Air Force Base. Mrs. Olson was active in the Girl Scouts for many years as a leader, cookie sales coordinator and badge advisor, and was awarded the Girl Scout Thanks Badge for her work; she also worked with Cub Scouts and 4-H. Having grown up in the depression, she was well known for her recycling efforts, long before it became fashionable, and received special recognition from Keep Roberta and Crawford County Beautiful. She belonged to the Wives' Club at Robins Air Force Base, and especially enjoyed the Junk 'n' Lunch activities.

Mrs. Olson, along with her husband, are best known for their work as co-owners of Olson's Studio of Photography. Together, between 1964 and 1983, they photographed thousands of Warner Robins and Northside High School seniors; hundreds of weddings; as well as proms, community and sporting events, and portraits. After closing the studio, they retired to a country home in Crawford County, where they enjoyed watching the birds and other wild life.

Her husband, Virgil Olson, son, Sky Olson, grandson Kent Kitchen, and sister, Marion Henigan, precede Mrs. Olson in death. Survivors include a brother, Jeff Strack (MaryLou) of DeKalb, Illinois; three daughters, Janaan Kitchen of Anchorage, Alaska; Keetjie Ramo of Davenport, Iowa; and Jaloo Zelonis (Tony) of Roberta, Georgia; as well as six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren scattered throughout the country, in New York, Illinois, Arkansas, Texas, California and Alaska.

Visitation will be held Friday, September 25, 2009 from 5:00 to 6:00 at McCullough Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will follow at 6:00 in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. Private interment will be at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Milledgeville.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088