Richard and Patricia Olin

Richard Ellsworth Olin (Dick), aged 89, died May 9, 2020. He was joined by his loving wife, Patricia Ann Hammond Olin (Pat), aged 87, four days later on May 13, 2020. Married for 64 ½ years, they are together in death as they were in life.  Dick and Pat’s story is a true love story. Both joined the United States Air Force, Dick in 1953 and Pat in 1954. Dick was a training officer and Pat was a nurse. They met at Parks Air Force Base, California, when Dick spied a cute nurse across the room at the Officer’s Club and asked her to dance. As they became acquainted that night, they realized that they had grown up within an hour of each other. Dick was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts and Pat was born and raised in Bartonsville, Vermont. Dick would drive by the road to her house every winter to ski.  Together, they obtained private pilots’ licenses, rode motorcycles, sailed, fished, water skied, played tennis and golf, bowled, traveled for Dick’s assignments in the USAF, raised four children, and made many close friends over the years. Dick’s last assignment was with the Special Operations School at Hurlburt Field, Florida, nicknamed “The Zoo” during the time he was there from 1970-1983. Dick was on many sports teams at Hurlburt, including volleyball, tennis and softball. His nickname was “Spider” due to his height and long reach. Pat carved out her own niche in Fort Walton Beach, participating in the Officer’s Wives Club Thrift Shop and reaching many people with egg decorating, her “crazy hobby”. She gave freely of her time to teach people this unique craft and also participated in many craft shows in the local area and in Vermont when Dick and Pat visited Pat’s family there. The Olin’s were also the consummate host and hostess, always ready to have a squadron party with plenty of games, Pat’s renowned Baked Beans, and Dicks exceptional Bar-B-Que anything. He loved his grill.  Dick was the only child of Harry and Adella (Peterson) Olin. Pat was one of four children born to Roger and Zeona (Fisk) Hammond. Among her family, Pat was known as Aunt Petie. She is preceded in death by her brother Roger and his wife Jane, her brother Guernsey and his wife Betty, and her twin brother Prentice. Pat and Dick spent many happy years visiting Vermont, in particular in June for the twins’ birthday. Their hearts were divided between Fort Walton Beach and the Gulf of Mexico and the Green Mountains of Vermont.  Survivors include daughter Cheryl Olin McCraw (Rick) and their children Megan and Laura; son Eric Olin (Wendy) and Eric’s children Kristofer (Erica) and Jennifer (Bryan); daughter Christina Olin; daughter Sandra Leaverton (Marty) and their child Daniel; one great grand-daughter; sister-in-law Teresa Hammond (Prentice), and numerous extended family in Florida, as well as nieces, nephews and their children in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.  Due to current conditions, a limited service will be held at McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Avenue SE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida on May 26, 2020 at  10:00 AM CST.  Pat and Dick will be placed together in a Columbarium Niche at Beal Memorial Cemetery, 316 NW Beal Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois.

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