Virgil B. Olson

Virgil B. Olson, Major, USAF (Ret.) passed away, February 6, 2009, at the age of 91. Born in Dekalb County, Illinois to Bernie and Alice Olson, he graduated from Dekalb High School in 1935, where he earned varsity letters in four different sports. In 1938, he married Martha Strack and they celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary in 2008.

In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps; earning his wings in 1944. He flew 30 missions over Germany in B26, A26 and A20 bombers, earning several medals and awards. When the war ended in 1945, he was discharged as a First Lieutenant. In 1946, he reenlisted as a Staff Sergeant. He won the Armed Forces World Wide photo contest in 1947 and was assigned as an Air Force photographer. Shipping to the Panama Canal Zone in 1948, he served as Chief clerk in the Reserve Officer's Office until an opening became available in the photo lab. As the Public Information Photographer, he took news pictures of many notables, including most South American Presidents.

In 1951 he transferred to San Antonio, Texas and was recalled as an officer in 1952; then transferred to Hollywood, California as a motion pictures officer and supply officer. He was sent to the Panama Canal Zone again in 1952. While there he had many interesting photo assignments. With a team of photographers, he traveled throughout Panama photographing Mardi Gras celebrations, San Blas Indians, banana plantations and the Canal for a documentary film. He also supervised a team of photographers covering the first visit of Queen Elizabeth of England to the Canal Zone. He transferred back to Hollywood Lookout Mountain Air Force Station where, because of his past supply experience, he was assigned as Materiel officer. After four years, he was transferred to Iceland as supply officer and officer in charge of the laundry/dry cleaning plant.

A year later, he transferred to Mitchell Air Force Base in Long Island, New York, where as supply officer he was responsible for the shipping and transfer of most base equipment when the base closed. He was the next to last person to leave the base, and was transferred to Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. At Robins he served as supply officer squadron commander and chief of the base equipment management office.
In January 1964, he retired from the Air Force as a Major and opened Olson's Photo Studio in Warner Robins with his wife, Martha. Over the next eighteen years they photographed thousands of high school seniors, hundreds of weddings and did new photography for the Warner Robins Sun.

In 1983, they closed the studio and built a home in Crawford County where he lived until his death. He is survived by his wife of seventy years, Martha; daughters, Janaan Kitchen of Anchorage, Alaska; Keetjie Ramo, Davenport, Iowa; Jaloo Zelonis (Tony), Kathleen; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and loving family German shepherd, Trinka. A son, Sky, predeceased him in 2005.

Visitation will be Tuesday, February 10, 2009, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2009, in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home with interment following in Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The Reverend Sydney Odom will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Humane Society, 206 Bay Street, Warner Robins, Georgia, 31093 or the Animal Rescue Kindness, P.O. Box 7603, Warner Robins, Georgia, 31095.


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