Carl Olson Obituary

Carl O. "Cully" Olson
July 7, 1917-Dec 17, 2012
Resident of San Jose, Ca
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota to a family of nine children, Carl accepted Christ as Savior at an early age and went on to dedicate his life to full-time service as a minister of the gospel. Cully was an outstanding preacher, evangelist, counselor, pastor, missionary, and district secretary in the Baptist General Conference for more than 50 years. A "good and faithful servant" in the kingdom of God and beloved by all, Cully died peacefully in his sleep and is survived by wife Ruth, three children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial service to be held 2:00pm, Jan 12, 2013, at Dwell Christian Church (Willow Glen Baptist Church), 1292 Minnesota Ave., San Jose.

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Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Jan. 6, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Carl Olson

6 Entries

January 15, 2013

How can one forget Cully Olson? He was a sterling example of the "Greatest Generation!" Serving faithfully in the U.S. Army, and then the stirring and, actually hilarious story, of how he came home, seeing his mother for the first time after many, many months away. Then, of course, a great man and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. How many people, young or old, did he influence and encourage for Jesus Christ? I remember him as encourager and friend as we were growing up at Bethany Baptist Church when he wa our youth pastor. Preaching, joking. leading, driving the bus for what he called"Recreation Night." My sister Eunice noted earlier, that we would go with him and his beloved Ruth, to special evangelistic meetings, and with Ruth playing the piano, Eunice and I would sing together as the "special music" part of the evening. When Eunice and I were 12 and 13 years old, he baptized us at Bethany Baptist when the church was between ministers. I mentioned his dear wife, Ruth. How she could play the piano. Her rendition and arrangement of "Out of the Ivory Palaces" was truly something special and memorable.
As a "warrior" for the United States, and a "warrior" in the"Army" of the Lord, Cully was a special, one of a kind person, whom people loved, and will be missed!
My wife Judy and I send our sympathy to all of the Olson family.
Grace and Peace,
Bill Hagstrom

January 13, 2013

Cully was a wonderfull leader. I have a most fond and vivid memory of him as our youth minister some 65 or so years ago. I remember a sliding outing we went on at the Town and Country Golf Course in St. Paul on a cold Minnesota evening for which I was not well prepared. I can still see Cully wrapping his coat around a freezing skinny boy. And then of course the messages and testimonties he gave at Bethany Baptist Church and the Franklin Avenue Youth Chapel. My deepest sympathies to his immediate family and brothers Arnie, Gene, Ken and Dan. Roy Tutt

January 12, 2013

When one is blessed in life with people who make a lasting impression and have helped shape one's life for time and eternity, they would have met and known "Cully" Olson. I could fill a page with memories of his ministry in my life as a very young girl and how he helped to impress upon me just what a life of service for Christ is all about. I remember riding with him and Ruth to special meetings and sing a solo or a duet with my brother, Bill. We were all of 10-12 years old. As our youth pastor at the Franklin Avenue Youth Chapel we were always challenged to know and live for Jesus. He drove the Sunday School bus and played ball and was so involved in our young lives. I remember when we went on a sleigh ride in the winter when I was around 12 and I fell off the sleigh and he carried me on his back to catch up with the party. I have always loved and cherished "Cully Olson" . I have been married to a pastor for 53 years and being involved in ministry for so many years and feeling it was a "normal" way of life, is a result of the influence of this special man who served God with his whole heart. My love and greetings to Ruth and to thank her for her testimony of a devoted wife and wonderful pianist. To the rest of the family we send our sympathy and prayers for God's love and peace and wonderful memories to fill you hearts.
God bless you.
In His Love and Service, Eunice (Hagstrom) Sundberg, Robertsdale, Alabama

January 12, 2013

I will be bringing my father, James Richard Garvey, to the service today. He is 95 years old, born the same year as Cully (1917), born and raised in St. Paul, Minn. and was a neighbor of Cully's. He has very fond memories of growing up with your dad! James Garvey moved to California 58 years ago. The men knew that each other lived here - I'm not sure why they didn't get together - I suppose because life gets so busy... James' got 8 children, about the same number of spouses, 18 grandchildren and 6 great children to keep him preoccupied :)

Sally (Harrington) Plynn

January 6, 2013

Cully and his family (especially his sister, Eleanor, were such good friends to me during my adolescence and early adulthood. Ruth, I remember your wonderful piano playing. May God bless and comfort you.

Rosalie Harrington

January 6, 2013

Was sorry to hear of Cully's passing. Had so many good times in Junior Church at Bethany in St. Paul. Met Cully when I was only 14.

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