J. Francis Olsen

J. Francis Olsen
of Hobe Sound, Fla.
J. Francis Olsen, 89, passed from time to eternity on May 27, 2007 at his home in Hobe Sound, Fla. He was born in Trappe, Md., on August 18, 1917 and his family moved to Binghamton, N.Y. when he was 15. He lived in Binghamton until moving to Hobe Sound in 2002. He was a graduate of Binghamton High School and Ridley-Lowell Business Institute. After spending several years with a local accounting firm, he was appointed business manager of Gardner Motors in 1947. Over the next 50 years he was involved in the ownership and/or management of five automobile enterprises, retiring at age 80 as Executive Vice President of Feduke Motors and Feduke-Olsen Leasing. Francis Olsen was very active in community affairs, including membership in the Binghamton Club and the Broome County Chamber of Commerce. He was a lifelong member of the Community Bible Church of Binghamton, and served on its board and in several offices of the church across a period of more than 50 years. He also was a trustee of a private foundation which assisted needy families and he established several scholarships at Hobe Sound Bible College. For many years he was active in the Broome County YMCA as a participant in various noon athletic leagues and as a member of its board, including a term as its president. He served on the board of Eastern Pilgrim College in Allentown, Pa., and for 25 years was a delegate to the quadrennial international conference of the Wesleyan Church of Indianapolis, Ind. Subsequently he was elected to the conference council of the Pilgrim Holiness Church of New York in Albany, N.Y., and was its treasurer for 25 years. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary; two sons and daughters-in-law, Philip and Cathy Olsen, Stuart, Fla., and James and Joyce Olsen, Hobe Sound, Fla.; and a daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Philip Estes, Stuart, Fla.; plus eight grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Clarence, Denton, Md., and Roger, Schenectady, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Hope International Missions, P.O. Box 1065, Hobe Sound, Fla. 33475.
The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. at the Hobe Sound Bible Church on Tuesday, May 29, followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m. Interment will be at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta, Fla. Martin Funeral Home of Stuart is providing funeral arrangements.