Raymond Olsen

Raymond W. Olsen, 89, died at the Washington State Veterans Home in Retsil, Washington on December 24, 2006. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 22, 1917 to Frank & Christina (Hellmuth) Olsen. Raymond graduated from high school in Brooklyn in 1936 and attended Orange Coast Community College in California. He married Eleanor P. Jurica on November 23, 1947 in Newark, New Jersey. Raymond worked as a Construction Superintendent for 32 years in New York and California, retiring in 1983. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Boatswain's Mate First Class in the South Pacific from 1943 to 1945. He enjoyed golf, reading, playing cards, traveling, home improvement, spending time with his grandchildren, and swimming. Raymond loved many dogs, especially Chip who passed away in 1987. He was a member of Knights of Columbus in Hemet, California, VFW in Brooklyn, and Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Hemet. He volunteered as bingo caller at church, made rosaries, and worked pancake breakfasts. Surviving are his wife Eleanor; daughter Judith (Bill) Shellenbarger of Pomeroy, Washington and Thousand Palms, California; grandchildren Karen Haverly of Beaverton, Oregon, Cindy Peters of Lake Stevens, Washington, Raymond Shellenbarger of Texas, Tracy Kuehnau of California, and Ray Rex Shellenbarger of California; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers Henry & Alfred and great-granddaughter Angel Eggen in 1989. Visitation will be at Rill's Life Tribute Center in Port Orchard on Thursday, December 28, 2006 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Graveside service at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington at 12:30 pm on Friday December 29, 2006.