Obituary of Winnifred Olsen

Prior to the service at South Sound Manor, March 28, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Winnifred Lois (Castle) Olsen Winnifred Olsen, noted educator, historian, author, and civic volunteer, passed away March 19, 2011, at Panorama Convalescent Center, Lacey at the age of 94. Born and raised in Olympia, “Winnie” was the eldest of three daughters of Lewis and Minnie Castle. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Washington State College (1938) with a B.A. in sociology, journalism, and (much later) a principal’s certificate, she married her high school and college sweetheart, Walter H. Olsen, and began her long involvement with Olympia activities. She began writing free publicity for United Good Neighbors, Red Cross, March of Dimes, Easter Seals, Cancer Crusade, Girl Scouts, and others. After the arrival of two sons, she helped organize a local preschool nursery school, and then became “Mother Goose,” producing, writing and starring in the weekly program for preschoolers on KGY radio for eight years. Later, she became PTA-focused, at various times serving as presidents of Olympia High School PTA, City Council PTA, and Citizens Advisory Council on Education. This latter group helped lay early groundwork for a state college in Thurston County. Winnie served in various capacities for the Olympia branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) for 60 years and was AAUW state president for 2 years. She helped organize the Thurston County Juvenile Protection Committee, the Olympia Panhellenic Association, and wrote publicity for the beginnings of the Olympia chapters of the YWCA, League of Women Voters and Junior Programs. During the 1960s, she was chairman of the Thurston County Welfare Advisory Committee and on the steering committee for the State Conference on Citizenship, the Women’s State Civil Defense Committee, Governor’s State Conference on Libraries, Governor’s Conference on Children and Youth, a delegate to the White House Conference on Children and Youth, and the National Committee for the Support of Public Schools. She served 11 years on the State Fulbright Scholarship Committee. While working at the State Capitol Museum (1963-1967), Winnie discovered the story of the Thurston County pioneers George W. Bush and his son William Owen Bush. Her 35 years of research, publicity, and presentations to numerous organizations culminated in the establishment of Bush Family Interpretive Park with historical kiosk near the original Bush homestead in Tumwater and naming of the state’s new archives building. The City of Tumwater honored her as its “Historian of the Year” for 1996. Winnie was hired by the Tacoma Public Schools in 1967 to put minorities into Northwest history classes. During this period until her retirement in 1984, she made classroom presentations, wrote teaching materials, student texts and KTPS television programs on Black history, Native American culture and Tacoma history. She also taught a popular series of extended education classes for teachers titled “Think Indian” for UPS, PLU, and WWSU. One of her several books, For The Record – A History of the Tacoma Public Schools, won a national ”Golden Achievement Award” for school publications. For work during this period, she was also awarded the Tacoma Historical Association’s annual Murray Morgan Award, was named Pacific Northwest Labor History Association’s “Person of the Year,” and was made an honorary member of Tacoma Longshoremen’s Union #23 for her historical contributions. Following retirement, Winnie continued volunteer services in the Olympia area, serving on the boards of Timberland Library, Friends of the Library, Thurston County Historic Commission, and Washington State School Retirees Association, among others. She was recognized for her lifelong achievements through numerous awards, including George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush Daily Points of Light, WSU Alumni of the Year, Washington State Retired Teachers Association Stan McNaughton Outreach Award, Olympia High School Alumni Hall of Fame, YWCA Lifetime Achievement, Alpha Gamma Delta Distinguished Citizen, City of Olympia Heritage Commission, and Olympia City Council Historic Preservation Award. Winnie was pre-deceased by her husband, Walter H. Olsen; her older son, Walter H. Olsen Jr. (survived by wife Glenda); and her two sisters, Dorothy Curlett of Mexico City/Olympia and Betty Jean Kraig McEvoy of Spokane. She is survived by her younger son, Wayne (and wife Betsy) of Bonney Lake; 4 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and 9 nieces/nephews. To leave memories of Winnie or condolences for the family, please click on "View Guestbook" below.