Bill Olson ’69 – Davidson College

Dr. William Bryan “Bill” Olson passed away peacefully in his home on Jan. 9, 2019, at the age of 71 from longstanding heart disease.

Bill was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of the late John Robert Olson, M.D., and Harriet Newell Olson. He was the brother of and prior medical practice partner of the late John Robert Olson Jr., M.D.

He is survived by his sister, Ingrid Olson Blanton of Oxford, Maryland; his loving wife, Nancy Kaye Olson; two sons, William Bryan Olson II (Kristen) of Ithaca, New York; and Peter Matthew Olson (Brooke) of Richmond, Virginia; a daughter, Kaitlin Olson Burcher of Fairfax, Virginia; two granddaughters, Everett Cady Olson of Ithaca; and Scout Magnolia Olson of Richmond; and one grandson, Knox Houston Olson.

Dr. Olson was a 1965 graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, Tennessee; a 1969 graduate of Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina; and a 1973 graduate of Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, Louisana. He served his medical internship from 1973-1974 at Blodgett Memorial Medical Center in Grand Rapids, where he met and proposed to Nan, his soulmate of more than 44 years. They were married in 1974 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

He served his residency in diagnostic radiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., from 1974-1977 while on active duty in the Army. He served tours of active duty at the Fifth Army Hospital, Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany, and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal twice. Dr. Olson attained the rank of major.

Following his active duty military service, Dr. Olson went into the private practice of diagnostic radiology while living in Muskegon, Michigan; Williamsburg, Virginia; and Franklin, Virginia, until his retirement in June 2012. He and Nan have lived together in Franklin for more than 25 years and raised their family.

He was a member of Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, Suffolk, Virginia.

The private family memorial service will be held at a later date. His cremains will be interred in the family burial plot in Kalamazoo.

The family would like to express its heartfelt appreciation to the Sentara Heart Hospital, Norfolk, for their dedicated care and support during Dr. Olson’s long illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, 3488 Godwin Blvd., Suffolk, VA 23434; or to the Sentara Heart Hospital, 600 Gresham Drive, Norfolk, VA 23507.