Barbara Ann Olson

1946 - 2025

Sep 3, 1946 - Dec 6, 2025

Barbara Ann Olson (Vaughan), a devoted mother, grandmother, mentor, and lifelong Cougar, passed away in Spokane, Washington, on December 6, 2025, with her family by her side. She was 79.

Born on September 3, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Mary Ellen Vaughan, Barbie's family moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1948. She was raised in Vancouver, Washington, where she graduated from Hudson Bay High School in 1964.

That fall, Barbie arrived in Pullman to attend Washington State University, sparking a lifelong love affair with the university and its community. She dove into campus life with enthusiasm, joining the Spurs, the Little Sisters of Minerva for SAE, and the Pi Beta Phi sorority, where she served as President from 1967 to 1968. Her spirited energy was undeniable as she served as a WSU cheerleader from 1965 to 1967. She graduated with honors in 1968.

On July 27, 1968, she married the love of her life, Craig A. Olson. They moved to Spokane in July 1976, where they raised their family and became pillars of their community. Barbie was deeply involved at First Presbyterian Church in Spokane. She served in the MOPS program and was a fixture on the worship team, where she shared her beautiful singing voice on Sundays. Perhaps her and Craig's greatest gift to the community was their shared dedication to premarital ministry and mentoring, offering wisdom and guidance to countless couples.

Barbie and Craig's passion for WSU never waned. In 1988, Barbie became an advisor for the WSU Spirit Squads, traveling between Spokane and Pullman for decades to mentor student-athletes. In the summer of 2017, she and Craig moved to Pullman full-time to fully embrace the university environment they loved. Barbie served as a Spirit Squad advisor for 34 years, retiring in 2022. Together, she and Craig were recognized in 2018 for 30 years of dedicated giving to Cougar Athletic Funding. Barbie also received the Cougar Pride/ Distinguished Alumni award in 2024.

Barbie will be remembered for her signature red lipstick and her enormous, welcoming smile. She possessed a heart that was always open and ready to listen to everyone, making strangers feel like friends and friends feel like family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband of 50 years, Craig Olson, who passed away in November 2018.

Barbie is survived by her three children, C.J. (Robin), Erika (Mark), and Kristina (Mike); her ten cherished grandchildren; and her siblings, George (Sue), Rick (Jan), and Betsy (Rick).

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 2 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Spokane, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Washington State University Spirit Program to honor Barbie's legacy. Your gifts will support the cheer and dance teams that bring so much energy to the university she loved.

Please make checks payable to the WSU Foundation with 'Crimson Squad Excellence Fund GF003552 - In Memory of Barbie' in the memo line. Donations may be sent to:

WSU Foundation PO Box 641925 Pullman, WA 99164-1925.