Paul E. OLSON

OLSON, Paul E. 68, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2017, with his family at his side. Paul was born on December 29, 1948 and grew up in the Belgian Congo where his parents were medical missionaries. He learned Lingala and French fluently as a child. He had a distinguished 35-year career as a teacher and school administrator in Arizona and in American and International Schools in nine countries. In 1994, he was awarded the National Distinguished Principal award for his leadership of Kigali International School, Rwanda. He completed an MFA degree in fiction writing at the University of Arizona in 1995. He was an adventurer who loved immersing himself in the languages and cultures of the countries where he lived. He enjoyed reading, writing, fishing, hiking and all kinds of music, especially Congo Jazz. Paul is survived by his spouse Margaret (Margie); daughter, Lena; sisters, Eleanor Bowman, Barbara Molina, and Joan Harding; five nieces, five nephews, twenty-one great-nieces and nephews, and an international family that loved him and will miss him very much. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Center of St. Francis in the Foothills Church, 4625 E. River Rd., Tucson. Memorial donations can be made to Old Pueblo Trout Unlimited, c/o Roseann Marsett, Treasurer, 5031 N. Calle Tobosa, Tucson, 85749, or to the American Liver Foundation. Arrangements by DAVID'S DESERT CHAPEL FUNERAL.