Alden Olsen

OLSEN

Alden Warren Olsen, 86 passed away on February 21st, 2018 at his residence in Westerville, OH.  Born in Richlands, VA November 19th, 1931 he was the only son of Hallifreour Magnus Olsen and Lucy Ann (Lowe). He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Theresa (Clifford) Olsen.

Also survived by his four children and their spouses, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  Virginia and Donald Peppler of Neptune NJ, Noreen and David Thelan of Wadsworth OH, Joanne and Glenn Laney of Columbus OH and Eric Olsen of Columbus, OH.  Grandchildren Julianne Laney of NYC, Devin & Meredith Peppler of Neptune NJ, Erik & Tara Laney of Dallas TX, Kirk Peppler of Raleigh NC, Maggie Thelan of Wadsworth OH and Alex Olsen of Yelm WA.  Knowing he was a great grandfather to Ethan A. Laney and Zoey J. Peppler was a highlight of his last years on earth.  His elder sister Gloria (Olsen) Leroy of Erie PA survives him along with several brother in laws & sisters in-laws and numerous nephews and nieces in the Olsen and Clifford family.

Alden enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Pineville High School in WVA where he excelled in sports, math and science.  He was named All-State in Football.  He met his wife Terry in Boston MA where he was stationed at the Charlestown Navy Yard during his service as a boiler operator aboard the USS Mullany. They married on February 21st, 1954.

After serving in the Navy during the Korean Conflict he settled into Boston working nights as a boiler operator at a hospital while attending Chauncey Hall Prep and later MIT.  Before he was able to finish college he accepted a Research Chemist position in Connecticut, moving his growing family to Fairfield in 1959.  He continued his studies at Fairfield University.  After purchasing their first home in 1962, he moved the family to New Milford, CT where he and his wife raised their four children.

Alden spent his early childhood on a Staten Island, NY military base where his father, an emigrant from Iceland, served in the US Army.  Later moving to Charleston, WVA where he spent his middle school days before his family settled in the small town of Pineville, WVA.

His career as a Research Chemist included Escambia Chemical, Oxirane International, ARCO-Atlantic Richfield and Ashland Oil-Valvoline relocated him to several states including Connecticut, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona and Kentucky.   He retired from ARCO in Dallas, TX in his 60’s later to go back to work as a part- time Research Chemist with Ashland Oil– Valvoline in Lexington KY.  He did not fully retire until the age of 80, leaving a legacy of numerous research firsts as well as inventions and patents for plastics, oil, gas, antifreeze and cold fusion.  His research work brought him to the North Slopes of Alaska, the high altitudes of Colorado and the NASCAR track.  This was quite the achievement for a man who never obtained a college degree.

Although his career was in science, he enjoyed art, drawing, history, photography, home improvement as well as travel in the US and Internationally.  He especially enjoyed being a grandfather and watching his grandchildren grown.  He enjoyed many days at a track meet or on the sidelines of a soccer or baseball field, watching his grandchildren compete.

We know he will be welcomed into Kingdom of God by those family members who predeceased him and we will see him again in heaven.