Dorothy J. Olson

Dorothy Jane Olson, 93, formerly of New Hyde Park, New York, passed away in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 3, 2022. She was born in Brooklyn on October 30, 1928, to Herbert and Ruth (Anderson) Abrahamson. Following her graduation from Midwood High School she began working at the Greater New York Divisional Headquarters of the Salvation Army. At the time of her retirement in 1990 she was recognized for her 46 years of employment with the Salvation Army, by which time she had become Payroll Supervisor in the Finance Department.

In 1957 she married C. Harold Olson. Together they were very involved in leadership at their church, Lexington United Methodist in Manhattan, and at the summer camp meetings of the Camp Woods Bible Association in Ossining, New York. They enjoyed trips to Hawaii and Europe, and a cruise to the Caribbean. Dorothy and Harold were especially devoted to their five nieces and nephews, and took great interest in their lives and families. Providing hospitality was very important to Dorothy, and she was known for the dinners and other gatherings she hosted at their home for relatives and church groups.

Following Harold’s passing in 1993, Dorothy remained active in volunteer work. She served on the board of the Nassau North Shore Christian Women’s Club, and prepared tax returns for seniors through the Town of Hempstead. In 2012 she was honored by the Salvation Army as Volunteer of the Year in recognition of her participation in its outreach to the Bedford Hills Women’s Prison, her coordination of Bible correspondence programs for inmates, her Christmas visits to hospitals and nursing homes, and her service on the Nassau County Advisory Board. In retirement she also continued to travel, and took part in trips to the Holy Land, England, Ukraine, Hong Kong, and Alaska.

In later years she was a member of Floral Park United Methodist Church in New York, and then of the North Scottsdale United Methodist Church in Arizona, following her relocation to Phoenix in 2013 to live with her niece. In addition to her husband, Dorothy was preceded in death by her sister Helen Wimble and her brother-in-law Herbert Olson. She is survived by her sister-in-law Marilyn Olson, brother-in-law Robert Wimble, nieces Jerilyn Gilman and Carol Webber, and nephews Wayne Olson, Kurt Olson, Carl Wimble, and their families.

Dorothy’s funeral is planned for 11 a.m. on September 12 at R. Stutzmann & Son, 224 - 39 Jamaica Ave, Queens, NY 11428. The service will be preceded by calling hours from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and will be followed by interment at Calverton National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army (https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/ways-to-give/).