William Olden

Kerrville William Alexander Olden, 81, left this earth on February 19, 2009 at his home in Kerrville, TX.nbsp He was born on June 7, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri to Harry and Monica Olden, the eldest of eleven children.nbsp He was a husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather and good friend. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII amp Korea and licensed as a merchant marine. nbspnbspBill obtained his Bachelorrsquos Degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. in 1955.nbsp Although he worked for a few years as a deputy sheriff in Wichita, KS for the Sedgwick County Sheriffrsquos office, he worked primarily for the Boeing Company in Wichita, KS Westover Air Force Base, Springfield, MA the Vertol Division, Secane, PA, and for short time in Okinawa.nbsp He and his wife, Mary and their seven children moved to Kerrville in 1970 where he worked for Aerostar Aircraft ultimately retiring from the Kerrville State Hospital as Administrator of their Outreach Department.nbspSince retirement, he and his wife, Mary amp son, Matthew, have owned and operated Hill Country Limousine Service, Inc. as well as Space Saver Storage.nbspBill is survived by his wife, Mary, of 54 frac12 years, his children, Barbara amp Pete Young and their children, Gene amp Sarah Anne amp Bob Dybala and their children, Kristen amp Ericnbsp Rebecca Gramatikakis and her children Newly, Nia amp Georgiosrsquo and his wife Katie amp their daughter Tina Bill amp Connie Olden and their children Hailey amp Conner Matt Olden and his children, Sheradon amp Matthew amp Mike amp Mary Olden, as well as five brothers, David, Tom, John, Joe and Mark, four sisters, Katherine Olden, Joan Brake, Mary Tajchman and Julie Feuerborn, and over 160 nieces, nephews, greatnieces and greatnephews.nbsp He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Patricia and his brother, Pete.nbspA voracious reader, he held a lifelong passion for knowledge and was an avid reader on a variety of subjects including but not limited to history, science fiction, philosophy, medicine, culture and world literature. nbspnbspHe loved and raised several dogs preferring Doberman Pincers and German Shepherds enjoyed camping with his children was an avid hunter longtime member of the NRA and supporter of the 2nd Amendment.nbsp He watched with great concern any efforts to undermine it.nbsp He often traveled to gun shows with his good friends, Al and Roy, as well as to a local shooting range for target practice.nbsp With a twinkle in his eye he exhibited a wicked sense of humor which often left his wife, family and friends groaning at his puns andor laughing at his jokes, regardless of how many times they had been told.nbspnbspnbspFuneral services will be conducted by Father Tony Vilano at the Kerrville Funeral Home on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 6:00 PM, with burial to follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio on Wednesday, February 25, 2009. nbspnbspnbspIn lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Peterson Hospice at 1121 Broadway, Kerrville, TX, or to the charity of onersquos choice.nbspnbsp

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