Sandra Lyn Illing Oelstrom

1943 - 2022

Sandra Lyn Illing Oelstrom

Sandra Lyn Illing Oelstrom of Charlottesville, Va., passed away on January 14, 2022, of ALS surrounded by her loving family. Sandy was born on June 19, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, to William and Lyn Illing. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Commander William Illing Jr.

She met the love of her life, Tad, at Waukesha High School in Wisconsin and studied education and joined the Delta Gamma sorority at the University of Denver. Sandy and Tad were married in June 1965 upon graduation and embarked on a 35-year Air Force career involving 25 moves and several assignments overseas followed by 16 years at Harvard University. Academy cadets, international scholars, and even the president of the United States were most fortunate to be Sandy's guests. Sandy and Tad moved to Charlottesville in 2017 to enjoy golf, wine and beautiful views and to be a little closer to their grandchildren.

Sandy was a lifelong public servant having taught both public and private school intermittently over a 20-year period, focusing on education for the gifted. She organized and led social support organizations in the military community and consulted occasionally for a national institute on parenting. She continued her community involvement in multiple locations by volunteering at her local church and her Greek sorority.

She is survived by Tad, her beloved husband of 57 years; three loving daughters, Kristin (Grant) Meikle, Stephanie (Larry) Rubin, and Megan (Greg) Kuehn; and seven grandchildren, Anna and Gareth Meikle, Luke, Chase and Jack Rubin and Amelia and James Kuehn.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the single candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers Sandy has requested donations to the ALS Association at: https://www.als.org/donate.