Obituary of Joan Bagby Olson

Joan Olson, 73 years old, of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away on May 15, 2014 after a courageous fight. Joan was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 23, 1941. The daughter of a U.S. Air Force Colonel, Joan moved frequently during grade school and high school years, attending eleven schools in her twelve years of schooling. Joan graduated from Myrtle Beach High school in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and attended the University of South Carolina. She met the then Air Force Captain David A. Olson in 1959, and they were married on August 13, 1960. They had two children. She was a loving mother to her two children, Christina Mack and David Olson, and devoted grandmother to five grandchildren, Katie, Jason and Matthew Mack and Claire and Colin Olson. She was also survived by her brother, Robert Bagby, and her sister, Barbara Kiehl, as well as many nieces and nephews and other special family members. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister and friend, and she spent her days thinking of others and thinking of what she could do for others. She never missed an opportunity to send a card or a gift or make a phone call to tell someone special congratulations. She loved the people in her life. Joan loved serving as a director in the Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL) for more than 20 years. She loved the people, committed always to making everyone feel welcome and special. She would try to find a connection with everyone she met and would always remember that connection in her vast memory bank for her next conversation with that person. She wanted each NVSL team to feel special, she wanted each volunteer to feel special, and more importantly, she wanted each NVSL swimmer to feel special. She loved the NVSL with all her heart. We are celebrating her life with a visitation at the Adams-Green Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 28th from 5-8PM. The address of Adams-Green Funeral Home is 721 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170. On Thursday, May 29th, we will have a service at Jubilee Christian Center, 4650 Shirley Gate Rd., Fairfax, VA, beginning at 11AM. It will be preceded by an additional visitation at 10AM at Jubilee Christian Center. A private interment will be held at Fairfax Memorial Park on Thursday, May 29th. Joan loved people and she loved helping people. The family would love to have you consider posting a favorite memory or thought about her on this website. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made in Joan's name to the Samaritan's Purse ministry. Joan had a special affinity for Samaritan's Purse and spent countless hours working on donations to them. If you would like to make a donation by check, the address is Samaritans Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, and please note that it is in honor of Joan Olson. If you would like to make a donation by credit card, please call 1-800-528-1980 and ask that the call be directed to donations/in honor of Joan Olson.