Joyce Bessie Olson was born at Chicago, Cook County, IL, 5 Feb 1926, to Chicago-born Harry Elmer Olson, and New York-born Jewel Katherine (Angona) Miehle. Joyce was named after her great grandmother Elizabeth "Bessie" Fisher, and never liked her middle name because it reminded her of Bessie the Cow, an icon for a milk company popular during her life. Joyce grew up in Chicago until Harry and Jewel divorced, and Jewel married Stanley "Ralph" Walter Donner, in 1933. Shortly after Jewel remarried, Joyce went to live with her father, his new wife, Margaret "Marge" Louise Wethling, and her half-brother Harry Lee "Sonny" Olson. Although the Wethling family was from Chicago, many members had moved to Orlando, Orange County, FL, and from at least sometime in 1936 into 1937, Harry moved Marge, Joyce, and Sonny to Orlando. By 1939, Harry and Joyce had returned to Chicago, and by 1940 (US Census), Harry and Marge were separated, no longer living together (1940 U.S. Census). On 3 December 1941, Harry died when he crashed his car into a utility pole.
Joyce was always closest to her brother William "Bill" Harold Olson, and in 1940 (U.S. Census) he was living in Chicago with Harry and Joyce. Bill was good friends with Robert "Bob" Anderson, and through her brother, Joyce met Bob. While living with her mother after her father's death, Joyce worked with her mother cleaning private homes; Joyce left school after completing the 8th grade. At the age of 16, Joyce and Bob, 23, were married at Chicago, 6 June 1942. Her brother Bill had met his future wife, Ottilie "Ottie" Elfriede Albertus, a recent German immigrant. Joyce soon became best friends with Ottie, and together they planned a double wedding, with Bob and Joyce renewing their vows with Bill and Ottie at Chicago, 7 Nov 1942.
Joyce gave birth to two sons, Robert "Rick" William Anderson in 1944, and Bruce Harry Anderson in 1948, while Ottie gave birth to a daughter, Cheryl Joyce, in 1944, and a son, Mark William Harry, in 1949. During this time Joyce stayed at home at Chicago, raising the children. In 1953, Bob moved the family to Orlando, in a new house on Bumby St. Shortly thereafter, brother Bill moved his family to nearby Winter Park, Orange County. In 1955, Bob wanted to relocate the family to California for work. Joyce was happy living near her brother and family, and did not want to move to a state where she had no friends. Joyce and Bob divorced that year. Joyce went to work at the Orange Laundry and Cleaners at downtown Orlando. On weekends and during the summer, "Rick" and Bruce stayed with brother "Bill," "Ottie" and their cousins. That same year, Joyce met Robert "Bob" Russell Williams, an accountant, married him, and the family relocated to Tangelo Court at nearby Maitland, Orange County. Brother Bill was working at Patrick AFB (now Patrick Space Force Base), Cocoa Beach, Brevard County, and moved his family to Satellite Beach, Brevard County.
Joyce had a much younger half-brother, 15 year-old Ralph Stuart Emanuel Donner, who was trying to become a professional Rock-N-Roll singer, using the stage name "Ral" Donner. In August 1958, Ral moved from Chicago to Maitland to live with Joyce and her family. Joyce's husband, Bob had connections with several musical venues in the Orlando area, and got Ral some work. Meanwhile, Ral struck out to make his own contacts and eventually cut a record; for several years through the early 1960s, he became a successful recording artist. Eventually, Bob Williams became Ral's financial manager, and went on the road with Ral, when he toured. But, Ral and Bob had a falling-out, that also ended Bob's marriage to Joyce. In July 1962, Joyce travelled to see her brother perform live, several times, was always proud of Ral, and cherished those memories throughout her life.
During her second marriage, Joyce stopped working, but eventually went to work at Martin-Marietta Corporation, Orlando. There she met Hoosier Wayne Dee Marshall, and they married in August 1962, after Joyce's divorce to Bob Williams became final in July. Wayne and Joyce built a house on Scarlet Road at Winter Park where they moved in October 1963. While the house was being built, they lived in a clap-board rental property on Corrine Drive, Orlando, across from the Harry P. Leu estate (now Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens; after the City of Orlando opened the gardens to the public, the house was torn down).
In 1965, Wayne left Martin-Marrietta Corporation, and went to work with Trans World Airlines. The marriage ended 6 April 1970, and Joyce left her employment at Martin-Marietta Corporation. On 4 July 1970, her closest friend, sister-in-law Ottie, died of cancer and her brother Bill moved back to Chicago. Joyce had returned to work in retail sales at Jordan Marsh, Sears, Robinson's, eventually retiring, in 1988, from Burdines where she was the jewelry concession, Jewelmasters, department manager.
Her oldest son, Rick had become a successful cinematographer, working as cameraman on several Walt Disney films, as well as cameraman/director of photography on TV series" Carribe," "Father Dowling Mysteries," "Walker, Texas Ranger," and "Prison Break." Several times, Joyce was invited "on set," in Florida and California; more times cherished by her throughout her life.
Joyce began smoking as a teen and she continued to smoke until her brother Ral was diagnosed with lung cancer; he died of the disease in 1984. Having not smoked for more than 20 years, Joyce was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 1995. She died at home, 2 July 1996, at the age of 70, surrounded by family, pets, and friends.
Contributed by son, Bruce H Anderson (contributor 48273515), 23 August 2022.
Joyce Bessie Olson was born at Chicago, Cook County, IL, 5 Feb 1926, to Chicago-born Harry Elmer Olson, and New York-born Jewel Katherine (Angona) Miehle. Joyce was named after her great grandmother Elizabeth "Bessie" Fisher, and never liked her middle name because it reminded her of Bessie the Cow, an icon for a milk company popular during her life. Joyce grew up in Chicago until Harry and Jewel divorced, and Jewel married Stanley "Ralph" Walter Donner, in 1933. Shortly after Jewel remarried, Joyce went to live with her father, his new wife, Margaret "Marge" Louise Wethling, and her half-brother Harry Lee "Sonny" Olson. Although the Wethling family was from Chicago, many members had moved to Orlando, Orange County, FL, and from at least sometime in 1936 into 1937, Harry moved Marge, Joyce, and Sonny to Orlando. By 1939, Harry and Joyce had returned to Chicago, and by 1940 (US Census), Harry and Marge were separated, no longer living together (1940 U.S. Census). On 3 December 1941, Harry died when he crashed his car into a utility pole.
Joyce was always closest to her brother William "Bill" Harold Olson, and in 1940 (U.S. Census) he was living in Chicago with Harry and Joyce. Bill was good friends with Robert "Bob" Anderson, and through her brother, Joyce met Bob. While living with her mother after her father's death, Joyce worked with her mother cleaning private homes; Joyce left school after completing the 8th grade. At the age of 16, Joyce and Bob, 23, were married at Chicago, 6 June 1942. Her brother Bill had met his future wife, Ottilie "Ottie" Elfriede Albertus, a recent German immigrant. Joyce soon became best friends with Ottie, and together they planned a double wedding, with Bob and Joyce renewing their vows with Bill and Ottie at Chicago, 7 Nov 1942.
Joyce gave birth to two sons, Robert "Rick" William Anderson in 1944, and Bruce Harry Anderson in 1948, while Ottie gave birth to a daughter, Cheryl Joyce, in 1944, and a son, Mark William Harry, in 1949. During this time Joyce stayed at home at Chicago, raising the children. In 1953, Bob moved the family to Orlando, in a new house on Bumby St. Shortly thereafter, brother Bill moved his family to nearby Winter Park, Orange County. In 1955, Bob wanted to relocate the family to California for work. Joyce was happy living near her brother and family, and did not want to move to a state where she had no friends. Joyce and Bob divorced that year. Joyce went to work at the Orange Laundry and Cleaners at downtown Orlando. On weekends and during the summer, "Rick" and Bruce stayed with brother "Bill," "Ottie" and their cousins. That same year, Joyce met Robert "Bob" Russell Williams, an accountant, married him, and the family relocated to Tangelo Court at nearby Maitland, Orange County. Brother Bill was working at Patrick AFB (now Patrick Space Force Base), Cocoa Beach, Brevard County, and moved his family to Satellite Beach, Brevard County.
Joyce had a much younger half-brother, 15 year-old Ralph Stuart Emanuel Donner, who was trying to become a professional Rock-N-Roll singer, using the stage name "Ral" Donner. In August 1958, Ral moved from Chicago to Maitland to live with Joyce and her family. Joyce's husband, Bob had connections with several musical venues in the Orlando area, and got Ral some work. Meanwhile, Ral struck out to make his own contacts and eventually cut a record; for several years through the early 1960s, he became a successful recording artist. Eventually, Bob Williams became Ral's financial manager, and went on the road with Ral, when he toured. But, Ral and Bob had a falling-out, that also ended Bob's marriage to Joyce. In July 1962, Joyce travelled to see her brother perform live, several times, was always proud of Ral, and cherished those memories throughout her life.
During her second marriage, Joyce stopped working, but eventually went to work at Martin-Marietta Corporation, Orlando. There she met Hoosier Wayne Dee Marshall, and they married in August 1962, after Joyce's divorce to Bob Williams became final in July. Wayne and Joyce built a house on Scarlet Road at Winter Park where they moved in October 1963. While the house was being built, they lived in a clap-board rental property on Corrine Drive, Orlando, across from the Harry P. Leu estate (now Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens; after the City of Orlando opened the gardens to the public, the house was torn down).
In 1965, Wayne left Martin-Marrietta Corporation, and went to work with Trans World Airlines. The marriage ended 6 April 1970, and Joyce left her employment at Martin-Marietta Corporation. On 4 July 1970, her closest friend, sister-in-law Ottie, died of cancer and her brother Bill moved back to Chicago. Joyce had returned to work in retail sales at Jordan Marsh, Sears, Robinson's, eventually retiring, in 1988, from Burdines where she was the jewelry concession, Jewelmasters, department manager.
Her oldest son, Rick had become a successful cinematographer, working as cameraman on several Walt Disney films, as well as cameraman/director of photography on TV series" Carribe," "Father Dowling Mysteries," "Walker, Texas Ranger," and "Prison Break." Several times, Joyce was invited "on set," in Florida and California; more times cherished by her throughout her life.
Joyce began smoking as a teen and she continued to smoke until her brother Ral was diagnosed with lung cancer; he died of the disease in 1984. Having not smoked for more than 20 years, Joyce was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 1995. She died at home, 2 July 1996, at the age of 70, surrounded by family, pets, and friends.
Contributed by son, Bruce H Anderson (contributor 48273515), 23 August 2022.
