Henry L Olmstead's Obituary
Colonel Henry L. Olmstead, age 91, US Army Retired died July 5, 2015 after a long battle with implications of a stroke. Henry, a son of the Deep South, was born in Maud Alabama 15-December-1923. He left high school shortly after Pearl Harbor which led him to Connecticut and entry into the Army Air Corps at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. After a period of basic and advanced training he departed New York Harbor on the Queen Elizabeth with 20,000 others for England. While there, Henry served in an ordinance unit as part of the 8th Air Force.
He met and married an English girl to whom he was married for 43 years until she died of cancer in 1988. After his active service, Henry began a career with the Washington National Guard in 1947. He was a pioneer in helping to rebuild the National Guard into what it is today, a complete part of our military complex. It was sometimes said that he was the only person who could go to the Pentagon with a box of apples and return with badly needed equipment and supplies for the training of our troops. During this period of time, Henry served on the Board of Directors of the Summit Water Company for over 25 years.
Henry’s hobbies include music, gardening, reading, travel including trips to his beloved south land England. He and his wife Patricia were able to travel extensively including cruising and went to many European historical and biblical sites. He was a member of the Lakewood Methodist Church.
Henry is survived by his wife Patricia, his beloved calico cat Alyce, sons Bruce and Stephen, brother Vincent and stepdaughters Kim, Vickie and Lisa. He was preceded in death by his parent’s Albino and Ila, brothers David and Hughie, sisters Mildred and Connie.
We want to acknowledge the loving care and help of Olympia Home, St. Josephs and Franciscan House specifically care givers Linda and John.
Henry requested that no funeral services be held and that those who knew him to keep him on their memories. Memorials, if desired, are asked to be donated to personal animal programs.
As Henry’s ship departed the harbor, close friends and others who knew him waved farewell and while weeping said “there goes a good ol’ southern boy. As the ship reached the horizon and within sight of that golden home, those watching and waiting exclaimed; “here comes good ol’Henry!
He was home.
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