Kern County Obituaries

Olan O. Abercrombie 

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; Date Unknown

Olan O. Abercrombie of Boron, Ca passed away August 7, 1999 in a hospital 
in Lancaster, at the age of 82. At the time of death he was surrounded by 
his loving family, including his wife Dorothy and their three sons.

Mr. Abercrombie, a 48-year resident of Boron, was born in Altus, Oklahoma 
in 1917 and was raised in Roswell, New Mexico. He moved to California in 
1939 where he began working as a farm laborer and eventually as a truck 
driver. After changing jobs in 1944, Olan was drafted into the United 
States Army and served with the 25th Infantry Division on the front lines 
in The Philippines during WW II. After returning from duty in the Pacific 
Islands, he went back to work as a truck driver for the Carnation Milk 
Company for ten years. In 1950, he began working for the Pacific Coast 
Borax Company, now known as the U.S. Borax Company from which he retired 
after 32 years of service.

Mr. Abercrombie was a devout believer in Jesus Christ. He and his wife 
Dorothy were members of the First Baptist Church of Boron since 1951 where 
Olan served as a deacon for several years. Olan was also a respected 
member of the Masonic Lodge where he held many different positions over 
a 25-year period, including Master three times. He was a'talented 
song-writer and musician as well as an avid hiker.

Olan Abercrombie was a loving and dedicated Grandfather, Father, Husband 
and Friend. His passing is a tremendous loss to us all and we will miss 
him deeply.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and his three sons, A.A. "Captain" and 
his wife Joan, W. Wayne and his wife Janice, and Richard and his wife Becky. 
Grandchildren Kim Curtis, Kelly, Colin, Kate and Nell Abercrombie; great 
grandchildren Joal and Scan Curtis; sisters Annabell Elam of Hobbs, N.M and 
Elberta Ellison of Boron; nephews Monte Elam, Jack Grimes, and Lloyd Barkley; 
nieces Lois West, Kiddie Lou Russell and Barbara Brown.

Services were held on August 11, 1999 ai 11 a.m. at the Boron Masonic Lodge 
822 in Boron, CA. Interment was at Joshua Memorial Park in Lancaster, CA. 
Arrangements by Stickel Mortuary.

A giant passes on, testimony to a friend
by William Dale Barrel 
Olan O. Abercrombie, born in Oklahoma in 1917, passed away on August 7. His 
funeral service was held on August 11 at the Boron Masonic Lodge Building. 
Olan had resided in Boron Valley for almost 50-years.

Once or twice in a half century a personality can be acclaimed as the icon of 
a town. It will be possibly difficult to describe Olan's life and countless 
contributions to mankind, to his community area; his achievements...

He married Dorothy Kisselburg in Plainview, Texas in 1937. Their 62-year 
marriage is a romance story in itself. They first met at the respective ages 
of 11 and 8, a kinship that lasted 71 years. Together they had three sons.

Olan served his country in the Army during World War II. He spent 20 months 
in the Pacific Theaters as a foot soldier sludging through mud and jungles. 
He was awarded The Purple Heart, The Bronze Star, among other citations. 
His participation in WW II, according to Tom Brokaw's recent best selling book, 
made him one of America's "Greatest Generations."

In 1950 Olan moved his family to the Boron area, and went to work for Pacific 
Coast Borax (now U.S. Borax). When the Boron High School was established, 
he worked full time and attended high school to complete his secondary education. 
For Borax, he held positions in the shipping department, first as stacker, 
leadman, then stock clerk (in this position he kept track of all product and 
packing supplies. He was promoted to shipping foreman in the late 1960's. 
Through company education courses, he attained third year college equivalency. 
He was well liked and respected fro his unquestionable integrity.

As he went along, he became a first class public speaker. He was inducted as 
a deacon of the Baptist Church. He successfully entered the Masonic Lodge, 
later serving as Lodge Master during three different terms. (He was the 
Chaplain when he passed on.) He was a qualified SCUBA diver, sky diver, 
sports car driver.

Upon first meeting Olan, one would possibly think he was a shy man because 
of his selfless unassuming manner. He had an almost naive sense of 
responsibility-he was always willing to give assistance to anyone at any 
time; this willingness was his life's creed. It was widely accepted that 
Olan was willing and capable of taking charge of any problem or need that 
might occur in the community or surrounding communities. He was virtually 
at one with the communities; charity drives, senior citizens, directing and 
acting in stage plays, addressing countless mailings on his computer, was a 
talented guitarist and singer, he wrote poems and songs for special occasions, 
helped with the museum, was a confident, a mentor, an empathetic listener, 
and my best friend for 45 years.

Through most of his outstanding life, most did not know he lived past 27 years 
with serious heart disease. In 1972 he was one of the first patients to ever 
have heart artery bypass surgery; he was given 5 years to live. Dorothy started 
preparing non-fat meals. Olan went on a special exercise-walking regimen, shifted 
his gears and continued to work for Borax and the community. He was struck with 
even more devastating heart attacks and had more life saving surgeries — a 
pacemaker was put in place—he went on walking, stayed on his diet. Each time he 
was given only months to live, he continued steadfastly with the lodge, his 
church and community efforts. His last stroke left him blind, but despite the 
loss of his sight, he continued to walk the streets with his white cane, giving 
courage and good cheer to all he met, and still volunteered, he would know people 
by their voices.

He leaves a wrenching void in the psyche of the community and his family, an 
agonizing void in my life.

Olan is survived by his wife, Dorothy and his three sons, Captain of Barstow, CA, 
Wayne of Newbury Park, CA, Richard of Snohmish, WA and seven grandchildren.

Olan was interred at Joshua Memorial Park, Lancaster, CA.