Obituary: Olson, Ralph Lund Sr.
Age 93
He passed away December 27, 2013.
Ralph resided in Spokane his entire life.
In his early years he raced cars and hydroplanes.
He joined the Air Force and during WWII he became a fighter pilot.
After the war he received his commercial pilot’s license.
In 1950 Ralph married Dorothy Larson and together they had one son Ralph Jr. Later Ralph Sr. took up snow skiing and became an Associate Ski Instructor for Mt.
Spokane, this continued for 20 years.
When he wasn’t skiing Ralph was golfing at Wandermere Golf Course.
Ralph also liked to run.
He ran Bloomsday every year, 2011 being his last year in which he placed 3rd in the 90-99 year old category.
Ralph was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the Greater Spokane Elks and El Katif Shriners.
Ralph is survived by his son Ralph L. Olson Jr. (Vickie); grandchildren Debbie Byrne (Keith), Lisa Deloza (Jay); great-grandchildren Braydon Byrne, and Eva Deloza, all from Yakima, WA.
He is preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Agnes Olson, sister Ina Fracchione and longtime partner Marjorie Harris.
A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, January 2nd at noon, at Heritage Chapel.
Interment will take place Tuesday, January 7th at 1:00 pm at Spokane Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice House of Spokane, PO Box 2215 Spokane, WA 99210 or the Shriners Hospital, 911 W. 5th Avenue, Spokane, WA 99204.