Olga Rybina Willis

Olga Rybina Willis, age 44, passed away on June 20, 2026. She was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan in May 1982 to Natalya Vasilievna Rybina and Nickolai Rybin as the youngest of two daughters. Growing up in Kazakhstan, Olga was surrounded by the love, strength, and traditions of her family and the close-knit friendships of her community.

In 2003, as a young and courageous student, Olga made her first journey to the U.S., where she lived with her loving host family (David and Christine Loeffler) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While studying and working at the University of New Mexico, she met and forever captured the heart of her husband, Jason Willis. They shared more than 20 years of marriage, together building a home filled with love, devotion, and compassion as they raised their two sons, Ethan and Evan.

Olga completed her studies at Baruch College in New York City, New York, where she first developed a passion for supporting academic missions in science and medicine as a research administrator. Recognized for her dedication to hard work, leadership, and clarity of focus through complex challenges during her career, Olga proudly joined the Neurological Research Institute at Baylor College of Medicine after moving to Houston, Texas in 2016.

Olga fully embraced life and, above all else, her adoring sons. With her full heart, she opened her home to international students seeking an opportunity to live and learn in the U.S., including her beloved host daughter Ani. She loved traveling with her lifelong friend Alexandra; she loved music, comedy, and making lasting memories with dearest friends and family. As a devoted friend, Olga was known for her soft, caring, honest, funny, and compassionate spirit, and she left an indelible mark in every community she touched.

She was preceded in death by her father, Nickolai Rybin; and her host father, David Loeffler. Her smile, her laughter, her strength, her spirit, and her love will forever remain in the hearts of all those who were part of her beautiful life: her sons, Ethan James Willis and Evan Willis; her husband, Jason Willis; her mother, Natalya Rybina; her sister, Anastassiya Rybina (Rustam); her mother-in-law, Antoinette Willis (James); her siblings-in-law, Anthony Willis (Sarah), Michael Willis (Heather), Maria Willis, Faye Magsby (Rashad); and her beloved friends and colleagues.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Forest Park South Funeral Home, 12650 Shadow Creek Parkway, Pearland, TX 77584, on July 1, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers or other customary gifts, contributions may be directed to ‘YoungLung-AntonoffSinghi’, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486, or online at mdanderson.org/gifts.