Orlando R. Olona

OLONA, ORLANDO R. Orlando R. Olona, Msgt. USAF, Retired 22 years Eccl: 3:1-2 "There is a time for every affair under the heavens -- a time to be born and a time to die."

Age 92, Orlando was a part of the "Greatest Generation." He was 20 years old when Pearl Harbor occurred. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942; served on the Island of Attu, in Alaska; as a crew chief and tail gunner on the B-25 military airplane. In 1946, he met his future wife, Melba Dimas and they married in 1947. He was transferred to Germany and participated in the Berlin Airlift. They were in Munich and Berlin, Germany for four years. They were transferred several times more, including four years in Panama. He retired in 1964, returning to Albuquerque. His legacy is his military history, and he has seen his children and his children's children, as God promised.
Orlando lost his parents at a very young age and was raised by his loving Grandmother Sofia Bazan Olona, with the help of his Uncles Manuel, Blas, and Antonio.

He is predeceased by his father Pablo Olona, & mother Lucia Padilla Olona; his brothers Paul and Ernest; and his three sons Timmy, Steve, and Tom.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Melba; and his children Jerry, Cathy, Michael, Arthur, Mark, Sophia, Nick, Paul, and Jeff (and spouses); and his sisters Alice Olona Torres, and Pauline Olona Hernandez. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Orlando will be laid to rest with his sons, Timmy and Tom at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, with full military honors.

Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. All services will be held at St. Therese Catholic Church.

Funeral services include the following: Tuesday, September 2, 2014: Visitation 5-6 pm; Rosary 6-7 pm., reception to follow at St. Therese Parish; and Wednesday, September 3, 2014: Mass 9 am; catered reception lunch 10 am - 12 noon to be held at the Knights of Columbus on Mountain Road NW; Burial 2:15 pm at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

The family would like to thank all of Orlando's doctors, nurses, and caregivers during the last five years.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Wounded Warriors Project, or the Little Sisters of the Poor (Gallup, NM).

We wish to convey our heartfelt gratitude to the many family and friends who provided us with prayer, love and comfort at the funeral services celebrating the life of Orlando R. Olona.

Special thanks to Monsignor Richard Olona, and Father Vincent Chavez for celebrating the Mass of Resurrection, and Vernon Reza for the inspiring music.

Also, we thank the Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup, NM, for the daily Masses that were said for Orlando, during his illness.

We especially want to thank the Air Force Honor Guard, provided by KAFB, for their distinguished participation at the interment ceremony that took place at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Orlando would have been so proud and honored by their military performance.

We cannot possibly thank enough the many doctors and nurses who provided exceptional healthcare for Orlando -- the Veterans Administration Hospital, the UNM Cancer Center, and especially the VA Hospice team who lovingly cared for him, and our family, in his last three days.

"Don't cry because it's over -- Smile because it happened! -- Dr. Seuss"

Love and Prayers, Melba Olona, and children -- Jerry, Cathy, Michael, Arthur, Mark, Sophia, Nick, Paul, Jeff