Erval Olsen

Maggie Valley, Erval Hartley "Erv" Olsen, age 84, passed away on Friday, January 27, 2012 at MedWest Haywood Regional Medical Center. A native of Britt, Iowa, he was a former resident of South Florida, and had resided in Haywood County since 1990. He was the son of the late Emmanuel Hartley Olsen and Bessie Matson Olsen and was also preceded in death by one sister, Audry Myers. He attended Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee, Illinois and was a US Navy veteran, having served during World War II. Throughout his professional career, Erv was a salesman. At the time of his retirement, he was employed as a sales representative for the Cheque Division of American Express with 31 years' service. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Waynesville and was a former member of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Hazelwood Presbyterian Church. Erv participated in the Senior Olympics and loved to travel, preferably by car. He also enjoyed golf, deer hunting, and antique cars. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Rebecca Horn Olsen; three daughters, Chelly McDuffie and Cindy Lack, both of Marietta, Georgia and Wendy Walcutt and her husband, Frank, of Boca Raton, Florida; two stepdaughters, Toni Nelson of Independence, Louisiana and Pastor Parris Bailey and her husband, Pastor Frank Bailey, of New Orleans, Louisiana; one stepson, Charles Hanson, of Manhattan, New York; three brothers, Daryl Olsen, of Clyde, Texas, Myrlen Olsen of Britt, Iowa, and Bernie Olsen, of Jefferson, Wisconsin; four grandchildren; six step grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and five step great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2012 in the Chapel of First Baptist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Dr. Robert Prince and Pastors Parris and Frank Bailey officiating. Military honors will be observed at the conclusion of the service. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Waynesville Missions Fund, P.O. Box 690, Waynesville, NC 28786 or to the American Cancer Society, 90 Stiles Road, Canton, NC 28716.

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