Melvin P. Olson Jr.

Mr. Melvin P. Olson, Jr., 88, of Gloucester passed away on Thursday afternoon August 3, 2017 at home with his loving family at his side. He is the devoted husband to Ruth M. (Dahlmer) Olson with whom he shared 59 ½ years of marriage. Mel was born June 18, 1929 in Gloucester. He is the son of the late Melvin P. and Julia (Tebo) Olson. He was a lifelong resident of Gloucester, a graduate of Gloucester High School Class of 1947. He went on to Burdett Business School and graduated in 1954. He was a United States Army veteran and served during the Korean War and held the rank of Corporal. He served with his twin brother Alfred "Frenchy" Olson in an artillery battalion stationed in Ft. Lewis, Washington. They sailed to Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division and fought in six major battles. Mel was the Treasurer of the Gloucester Cooperative Bank for 28 years before moving on to finish his career at the Ipswich Cooperative Bank where he was Vice President as well as Director and Clerk of the Board of Directors for 10 years until retiring in 1991. He was also a Corporator for the Institute for Savings. He was the Commander of the American Legion Post 98 in Rockport for many years. He served as Treasurer of the March of Dimes. He was Treasurer of the local chapter of St. Jude for 11 years. He joined the Gloucester Fraternity Club in 1973, has been the treasurer since 1986, and was the Imperator in 1997. Mel served as Treasurer and Secretary of the WW II Memorial Committee. He was a member of the Holy Name Society at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church since 1955 and also served as their secretary for many years. He was also a life member of the Gloucester Elks Lodge 892 and the Gloucester VFW as well as a member of the D.E.S. Club, the Main Street Bowling League where he also served as treasurer until 1994 and the Spiran Lodge in Rockport. Mel enjoyed his mornings with the guys at McDonalds on Maplewood Ave and playing horseshoes and darts at the Gloucester Fraternity Club. He also wrote a book on his experience's in the Korean War. In addition to his loving wife Ruth, Mel is survived by his three children Debra J. Adiletta and her husband Mark of Rochester, NY, David J. Olson and his wife Sherry of Gloucester and Dr. Melvin P. "Skip" Olson, III and his wife Sabine of Basel, Switzerland. His six grandchildren Dr. Christopher Adiletta and his wife Chelsea, Nichole and Mark Adiletta, Christopher Olson and his wife Abigail, Jessica and Connor Olson. He is the great grandfather to Finley Olson and is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Mel was predeceased by his twin brother Alfred "Frenchy" Olson and his sister Dolores "Dolly" Bruni. Mel's visiting hours will be in the Pike-Newhall Funeral Home, 61 Middle St. Gloucester on Tuesday evening, August 8, 2017 from 4:00-7:00 PM. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, 142 Prospect St. Gloucester on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Seaside Cemetery Gloucester. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers donations in Mel's memory may be made to the WW II Memorial Fund c/o the Gloucester House 63 Rogers St. Gloucester, MA 01930.