Patricia Ann Drehs Olin, known as Patti to all who knew and loved her, was born on August 30, 1943, in Columbus, Ohio to Clarence W. "Larry" and Rosemary "Rosie" Drehs. Although the oldest of 5 children, she was an only child until the age of 6. While she cherished the days with just her parents, she truly loved the chaotic, crazy, fun-filled way of life that followed the addition of her 3 sisters and a baby brother. This upbringing has been the subject of much comedic reminiscing and many tears of laughter at family gatherings over the years.

Patti grew up in Dayton where she attended Catholic school at St. Agnes Elementary and Julliene High. Although her family moved to Greenville, Ohio, her senior year, Patti remained in Dayton to finish high school, graduating in 1961; and it was that momentous summer afterward that changed her life forever. A close family friend invited Patti to attend a picnic for Air Force Academy cadets who were visiting nearby Wright Patterson AFB. As the epic tale goes, one young, cocky cadet named Gary Olin saw Patti from afar playing badminton. He turned to his classmate and said with confidence, "That's the girl I'm going to marry." He introduced himself to her, they held hands watching the sunset that summer evening, and so began a love story that would last them both the next 61 years.

Patti went on to attend the University of Dayton. While there, she majored in education, performed as a Flyerette on the UD dance team, was on the homecoming court, worked summers as a lifeguard in Greenville, and graduated with honors. Not as convinced of her romantic destiny, Patti continued dating at UD, but Gary was always on her mind.

Upon college graduation in 1965 and much to her parent's chagrin, strong-willed Patti announced her intention to shelve her education degree and become a flight attendant with TWA. She trained in Kansas City, checked out in the Lockheed Constellation, and caught the bug for travel and adventure that would last the rest of her life.

By the summer of 1966, Patti and Gary decided to marry before his assignment to Japan. Because of airline policies prohibiting married women from serving as flight attendants, she was forced to quit her job. They married on June 18, 1966, in Greenville, Ohio, honeymooned in Nebraska, and then shipped out to Japan.  After only a few months in Japan and having just settled into their home and gotten a puppy named Saki, Gary – now a fighter pilot – volunteered for Vietnam without consulting Patti, and – even worse – volunteered to fly an airplane nicknamed "The Widowmaker," nearly making the length of their marriage even shorter than Patti's TWA career. But Patti exhibited a strength, resilience, and flexibility that served her well over the next 20 years as an Air Force spouse, and she accompanied Gary back to the states.  They then lived in Las Vegas for four months while Gary checked out in his new jet, and Patti substitute taught to keep bread on the table.

The Vietnam years were harrowing for Patti and a true testament to her mental, physical, and spiritual strength. Patti lived with Gary's family in San Bernardino, CA and called upon her faith for survival. She attended mass every day -- sometimes in her pajamas before work as a substitute teacher -- to pray for the safe return of Gary and his father (who was also deployed to Southeast Asia), and she prayed that the government cars driving slowly down their street and past their house would keep right on driving.

Thankfully, Gary (and his dad) returned, and the couple spent the next decade moving, expanding their family, and embracing their military life.  First, they enjoyed four years of being stationed in England, where Patti toured much of Europe, and their first baby was born.  Following that, they lived in Tallahassee where their second child was born.  When Gary's next assignment was a "remote" tour to Thailand, Patti exhibited her love of adventure and a true devotion to family when she bravely took her two toddlers to Bangkok to live off base while Gary lived on base over 100 miles away.  The young family united once a month, and, in the meantime, Patti once again relied on her own strength and independence for survival, as well as the deep bonds she forged with other American wives there.  Next, it was off to Virginia, where the couple made up for lost time and had two more babies, and, in 1979, the family moved to Apple Valley, California, where Patti and Gary resided for the next 36 years.

In 1985 with her youngest child in elementary school, Patti dusted off her teaching degree, went back to school to earn her Master's, and enjoyed teaching reading to underprivileged kids at Village Elementary School for over 20 years. She retired in 2007, after which she and Gary rediscovered her love of travel, exploring places like Alaska, China, the Panama Canal, Africa, and the Caribbean. In 2015, Patti and Gary relocated to Sun City Carolina Lakes in South Carolina where Patti stayed active golfing, swimming, singing in the Choral Society, and practicing yoga and Tai Chi.  In late 2017, she was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disease for which there is no cure. She fought it gracefully and bravely for many years, until January 20, 2022, when she died peacefully at home with loved ones by her side.

Patti had many life passions: shopping, singing, shopping, entertaining, shopping, playing softball, shopping, caring for her dogs, shopping, exercising, shopping, cooking, shopping, traveling, and shopping; but by far – without question – being a mother was the greatest of them all. There are no words to adequately describe the exquisite way she cared for and nurtured her family, envisioning that each of her children were unique and capable of greatness. She subordinated her needs to those of her children – raising them, teaching them, disciplining them, defending them, picking them up when they fell, and imparting morals and values to carry them through life. She sowed the seeds of responsibility, ethics, and learning that would produce two doctors, a lawyer turned stay-at-home mom, and a soldier – each of whom has made an impact in the lives of others and extended her legacy through their work.  Her pride in them was unparalleled . . . until she became a grandmother.

Known for her upbeat, fun-loving, and welcoming nature, Patti will be sorely missed by all who knew her, but her legacy lives on in her husband Gary of Fort Mill, SC; her four children -- Wendy Clendening of Fort Mill, SC (and husband Paul), Mark Olin of Harvest, AL (and wife Laura), Matt Olin of Hermosa Beach, CA (and wife Kelly), and Amy Olin of San Luis Obispo, CA (and husband Craig Matthews); her 7 grandchildren -- Cole, Luke and Ben Clendening, Mark and Mara Olin, Jack Olin, and Anika Matthews; and her siblings -- Susan Gassner of Fairfield, OH, Lauren Sullenbarger of Houston, TX, Christine Bateman of New Weston, OH, and Larry Drehs of Cincinnati, OH. Patti requested no formal services; a private family celebration of her extraordinary life will be held at a later date. Donations in her name may be made to the Cure PSP Foundation, Hospice of Charlotte, NC, or Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Lancaster, SC.

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." -A.A. Milne

An online guest register is available for condolences on the obituaries page at www.burgessfunerals.com .

Burgess Funeral Home and Crematory of Lancaster is caring for the family of Mrs. Olin.