Aletha May Olmsted, known to generations of high school students as "Miss O," died Dec. 4, 2004, at the age of 96.
Born in Petaluma in 1908, she was one of six children in the third generation of original Petaluma settlers, being born to John A. and Jocephine Houx Olmsted, who traced their ancestry back to 1632 England.
Miss Olmsted taught at Petaluma High School from the mid-1930s until her retirement in 1968. She taught physical education, said her niece, Elizabeth Ashman, but later went into the school's main building where she taught sophomore orientation, and remedial English and mathematics. She was also a class advisor.
Her aunt loved to garden, Ashman said, and was rarely without knitting, needlepoint or other handcraft. She also enjoyed Bridge, and was active in her church for many years.
One of the original Valley Orchards residents, Miss Olmsted is survived by a brother, Stephen Clay Olmsted; nieces Ashman and Aletha Gilmour of Mercer Island, Wash.; nephews Steve Olmsted of Cotati and John A. Olmsted III of Fullerton; sister-in-law Mahtee Olmsted and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
At the family's request, no services will be held. Memorials in her name may be made to the Horstman Flower Fund, United Church of Christ, 825 Middlefield Drive, Petaluma, 94952.
© 2004 Argus Courier
Born in Petaluma in 1908, she was one of six children in the third generation of original Petaluma settlers, being born to John A. and Jocephine Houx Olmsted, who traced their ancestry back to 1632 England.
Miss Olmsted taught at Petaluma High School from the mid-1930s until her retirement in 1968. She taught physical education, said her niece, Elizabeth Ashman, but later went into the school's main building where she taught sophomore orientation, and remedial English and mathematics. She was also a class advisor.
Her aunt loved to garden, Ashman said, and was rarely without knitting, needlepoint or other handcraft. She also enjoyed Bridge, and was active in her church for many years.
One of the original Valley Orchards residents, Miss Olmsted is survived by a brother, Stephen Clay Olmsted; nieces Ashman and Aletha Gilmour of Mercer Island, Wash.; nephews Steve Olmsted of Cotati and John A. Olmsted III of Fullerton; sister-in-law Mahtee Olmsted and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
At the family's request, no services will be held. Memorials in her name may be made to the Horstman Flower Fund, United Church of Christ, 825 Middlefield Drive, Petaluma, 94952.
© 2004 Argus Courier
Aletha May Olmsted, known to generations of high school students as "Miss O," died Dec. 4, 2004, at the age of 96.
Born in Petaluma in 1908, she was one of six children in the third generation of original Petaluma settlers, being born to John A. and Jocephine Houx Olmsted, who traced their ancestry back to 1632 England.
Miss Olmsted taught at Petaluma High School from the mid-1930s until her retirement in 1968. She taught physical education, said her niece, Elizabeth Ashman, but later went into the school's main building where she taught sophomore orientation, and remedial English and mathematics. She was also a class advisor.
Her aunt loved to garden, Ashman said, and was rarely without knitting, needlepoint or other handcraft. She also enjoyed Bridge, and was active in her church for many years.
One of the original Valley Orchards residents, Miss Olmsted is survived by a brother, Stephen Clay Olmsted; nieces Ashman and Aletha Gilmour of Mercer Island, Wash.; nephews Steve Olmsted of Cotati and John A. Olmsted III of Fullerton; sister-in-law Mahtee Olmsted and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
At the family's request, no services will be held. Memorials in her name may be made to the Horstman Flower Fund, United Church of Christ, 825 Middlefield Drive, Petaluma, 94952.
© 2004 Argus Courier
Born in Petaluma in 1908, she was one of six children in the third generation of original Petaluma settlers, being born to John A. and Jocephine Houx Olmsted, who traced their ancestry back to 1632 England.
Miss Olmsted taught at Petaluma High School from the mid-1930s until her retirement in 1968. She taught physical education, said her niece, Elizabeth Ashman, but later went into the school's main building where she taught sophomore orientation, and remedial English and mathematics. She was also a class advisor.
Her aunt loved to garden, Ashman said, and was rarely without knitting, needlepoint or other handcraft. She also enjoyed Bridge, and was active in her church for many years.
One of the original Valley Orchards residents, Miss Olmsted is survived by a brother, Stephen Clay Olmsted; nieces Ashman and Aletha Gilmour of Mercer Island, Wash.; nephews Steve Olmsted of Cotati and John A. Olmsted III of Fullerton; sister-in-law Mahtee Olmsted and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
At the family's request, no services will be held. Memorials in her name may be made to the Horstman Flower Fund, United Church of Christ, 825 Middlefield Drive, Petaluma, 94952.
© 2004 Argus Courier
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