Grant Hugh Olson, age 89, of Waynesboro, PA died on April 30, 2025. He spent many years living with multiple myeloma cancer, and spent his final four months at home in hospice care.
Born on June 11, 1935 in Titusville, PA, he was the son of Paul Lester Olson and Bertha May (Caldwell) Olson. He spent his early life in Titusville, attending the one-room Rose Elementary School through 8th grade and graduating from Colestock High School. He attended Edinboro State Teacher’s College, graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education degree. While at Edinboro he served as President of the Student Government Association during his junior year and President and Treasurer of Alpha Phi Omega, service fraternity.
If not for being color blind, he would have gone on to be an art teacher. Instead, he enlisted in the Air Force and served at Clark Air Base in the Phillipines from 1958 – 1961. The Air Force allowed him to travel the world and experience India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Africa and Europe. Upon returning to the US, he moved to Washington, DC where he earned his Master’s Degree in Finance from George Washington University.
His first home was in Bethesda, MD where he lived with his wife, Nancy Jane (DeCreny) Olson.
Following a stint as a cryptanalyst with the NSA, he took a job with IBM where he worked as a financial analyst for 26 years. His work included financial planning for IBM’s part in the race to the moon against the Soviet Union.
He was an avid hiker and backpacker who was dedicated to protection of the environment. He was a true renaissance man who was an accomplished classical pianist, oil painter, photographer and gardener. He built his own house with the help of his cousin in Warrenton, VA. He chose Waynesboro, PA as his final place of residence after learning about the area from work trips, spending many years performing trail and cabin restoration with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.
He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Mae (Olson) Layman of Arlington, VA and two grand daughters, Olivia Mae Layman and Meredith Anne Layman.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Richard Olson of Pleasantville, PA and Frederick Olson of Titusville, PA.
A Celebration of Life is being planned in the Waynesboro area with specific arrangements to follow. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA as soon as they are able, within the coming year.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Buttonwood Nature Center https://buttonwoodnaturecenter.org/ensuring-the-future-a-capital-campaign/
