John Earl Olund

John Earl Olund, 84, passed away on February 21, 2020 at his home in Fayetteville. John was born on April 26, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Harry Valentine Olund and Nina Pearl Taylor. He lived in Chicago, Illinois as an infant. As a young boy, he grew up with the Jordan family in Purvis, Mississippi while his mother taught school at Knott’s Island, NC. Later, he lived with this mother, Pearl and his uncle Philip Taylor on the family farm in Harlowe, NC.

John was a 1953 graduate of Beaufort High School, and attended North Carolina State University, where he majored in Agriculture and received his B.S. degree in Agronomy in 1957. Upon graduation from NC State, he was accepted to Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island and was commissioned an officer in the United States Navy and served on active duty until 1960. John was a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserves until 1970 after serving his active tours of duty.

He later worked as a branch finance manager for Borg-Warner Acceptance Corporation in Charleston, Jacksonville, Charlotte and Fayetteville. John eventually became a teacher with Cumberland County Schools, retiring with twenty-five years of service. He taught Vocational and Career Exploration at South View Junior High School and  Anne Chetnutt Junior High School. John married Damaris Ross (Dee) in 1965 until her death in 1997. He later married Anne Wilkinson in 1999 until her death in 2012. His third marriage was to Shirley Wood Barbour until his death.

John enjoyed traveling and camping with his wife and family. He took many tours to visit other states and countries. He also enjoyed making home improvements and repairing electrical and mechanical items for co-workers, friends and family. Helping others brought him much joy throughout his life, and he constantly pursued opportunities to do good deeds for anyone he met. He will always be affectionately known by his children as “Sir John the Earl of Cumberland”.

John was an active member in Highland Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder of the church, usher, member of the Williams Fellowship Bible class, volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Operation Christmas Child and Doers of the Word. He was an active member of the Retired Teachers’ Association as well as Passport to Health and AARP. He was a charter member of his men’s Saturday mornings social organization, the Kansas City Breakfast Club.

John is survived by his wife, Shirley Olund of the home; son, Randy Olund of Wake Forest, and wife, Susan and grandson, Jonathan; son, Jeffrey Olund of Hope Mills, and grandsons, Nicholas and Zachary; daughter, Kathy Olund Murphy of Fayetteville, and husband, Glenn, granddaughters, Lisa, Emily and Elizabeth; stepdaughter ,Cheryl Byerly and husband, Mike of High Point, grandchildren, Lee, Jessie Grove, Mark, Caleb, Jonathan Byerly; stepson, Ron Norwood and wife, Tina, of High Point, and grandchildren, Randy, Tyler and Hailey.

The family held a private committal ceremony on February 23, 2020 with the Reverends Chip Stapleton and Dr. J.C. Alexander officiating. The military flag was received by John’s wife following the service.

A Celebration of Life Reception will be held from 1:00pm-3:00pm on Saturday, February 29, 2020 in the fellowship hall of Highland Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be sent to:

Highland Presbyterian Church choir or building fund.

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