Olga is predeceased by her loving husband of 43 years, Melvin Leroy Wilson; parents, Max and Helen Kowalchuk; brother, Peter and sister, Nettie Kowalchuk. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Debra Howard (Brian) of Virginia Beach and Sharon Miller (Glen) of Huntsville, AL; her beloved grandchildren, Jason Miller of Huntsville, AL, Erin Cundiff (Brian) of Virginia Beach, Ryan Howard of Virginia Beach, Noah Miller (Allyssa) of Jackson, TN and a cherished great-grandchild, Blake.
Olga was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on December 18, 1932 to the late Max and Helen Kowalchuk. Olga, along with her brother and sister, were the first generation of Kowalchuks to be born in the U.S. after their father immigrated from Russia. She moved from Wilkes-Barre to New Jersey during her late teen-aged years where she went to work for many years for Lipton Tea. It was during this time she met and fell in love with Melvin who was serving in the U.S. Navy. They eloped in Baltimore, MD, and finally settled in Norfolk, VA where she devoted her life to raising her daughters and being loving wife.
Olga was a woman of constant prayer for her family and friends, loved her Lord and Savior Christ Jesus with all her heart, and she and her husband modeled their faith to their daughters throughout their life. She was a long-time member of Bayside Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA where she loved her sisters in Christ in the “Faithful” Sunday School class.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens at 6309 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23502. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation in Olga’s name to Union Mission, Disabled American Veterans, or the Salvation Army. Messages of condolences for the family at www.WoodlawnNorfolk.com.
