Edwin Billing Olds (Age 83) - (Died on June 29, 2002)

NAPLES, FLORIDA -- Edwin Olds died Saturday, June 29th with his family by his bedside at Naples Community Hospital. He was born November 15, 1919 in Ishpeming.

He is survived by his wife Gretchen and five children, son James (Leanne), Madison, Wisconsin, daughters JoAnn (Joseph) Drasner, Edina Minnesota, Susan (David) Durkee, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Barbara (Wayne) LaJoie, Rochester, Minnesota, Nancy (Stephen) Lindsay, Cheboygan, Michigan, six grandchildren and his sister Betty Tripp, Ishpeming, Michigan and her children.

He was a graduate of Ishpeming Michigan high school, Northern Michigan University and the University of Michigan. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and after the service he played a year of professional football for the San Diego Bombers while under contract to the Green Bay Packers.

Mr. Olds coached at Brown Military Academy in San Diego and Milligan College in Tennessee.

He served as Superintendent of Schools in Hartland, Michigan, the Waverly School District in Lansing, Michigan, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

He was inducted into the Northern Michigan University Sports Hall of Fame and the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame. NMU named him a distinguished Alumni in 1969.

Mr. Olds retired to Naples, Florida in 1986. A private service was held by his family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kidney Foundation of South Florida, 3699 Airport Road, Naples, Florida 34105.

Source: The Mining Journal