Olson married his wife, Carol Olson 65 years ago, and the pair have been lifelong residents of Chautauqua County, raising two daughters, Nancy Shrope and Susan Dykstra, and their family now extends to five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

After graduating from Jamestown High School, Olson was drafted into the United States Army at 18 years old during WWII, training in Florida and serving in France in 1944. When he returned home in 1945 he worked locally in a furniture factory, also pursuing a college degree first at Jamestown Community College and then at Fredonia. It was during that time that he met his future wife, Carol, on a city bus.

“They met on a bus that was going to Falconer,” Shrope said. “Mom worked at the bank and dad was working at a furniture factory at the time. They met on the bus and he began walking her to the house, and then they dated and took it from there.” Olson became a teacher at Randolph School for many years after that. His family noted that exercise has always been and remains important to him, with him always being one for walking and not being in a wheelchair until two years ago. Carol Olson reflected that they have always remained busy.

“I think it’s good that Ray is turning 100,” she said. “We’ve had a very pleasant life, with our two daughters, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. We always kept busy, and all of the grandchildren were in sports so we had plenty of places to go and enjoy.”

Ray Olson and his wife Carol have been married for 65 years. Submitted photo

Some other highlights of Olson’s childhood that Dykstra shared with the Post-Journal include playing things such as marbles and kick the can, fishing with his uncle, going to Wentworth’s Department Store to read magazines with one of his brothers, Fred, going to the Palace Theater with his friends and siblings, sledding down Washington Street, working at a local bowling alley as a teenager as a pin-setter, and making model airplanes and kites. Olson graduated with Jim Roselle and remembers how much he loved broadcasting, even in high school, and one time he got to see Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz fly in on a helicopter for the local premier of “Forever Darling”.

Dykstra noted that these days Olson remains very active in his church and likes to spend time listening to music, watching movies and TV, and playing Yahtzee.

Olson’s birthday was January 13 and the family had cake that day and blueberry muffins that morning. Olson visited with his caregivers and nephews and Monday his grandkids will be in town and will come to visit. Mayor Kim Ecklund also stopped in with a certificate and well-wishes from the city.

“Not many people get to make it to 100, and I have,” Olson said.

Olson said his secret to a long life is getting “plenty of exercise and eating good food.” He also gives advice to his grandkids, such as staying out of danger and finding something they like to do and sticking with it.

Ray Olson and his wife Carol have been married for 65 years. Submitted photo

“The advice he gives to his grandsons is to go to college or trade school and just study something,” Dykstra said. “If you change your mind later you will have something to fall back on. He also says to find a nice wife and don’t wait too long, stay healthy, be kind, go to church and if you have troubles, just keep going. He is happy to be 100 because not everyone makes it that long and to have great-grandchildren and a beautiful wife for so many years.”