Olive Bolt

Olive Virginia (Rephann) Bolt of Eckhart, Maryland passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Born July 1, 1921 in Frostburg, she was the daughter of the late Lester and Helen (Humbertson) Rephann.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband John A. Bolt, her twin brother Oliver “Jack” Rephann and her beloved Chow Chow Marina.

Olive is survived by her son John A. Bolt of Eckhart and her daughter Sherry A. Rush and husband Randy of Cumberland.  She leaves behind granddaughters Elizabeth Thomas-Tanner and husband Trent, Courtney Thomas-Winterberg and husband of Guy all of Cumberland and Tracey Leonard and husband Bryan of Carpendale, WV.  She is also survived by her great-granddaughter Olivia Leonard, who is her namesake, and a great grandson Cooper Tanner.

Olive was a graduate of Beall High School, Cathermine’s Business School, and Sacred Heart School of Nursing.  During World War II, Olive lived in Washington, DC and worked at the Pentagon and before returning home to care for her parents.  When her husband passed away in 1968, Olive learned to drive and went back to school to become a nurse to support her family.  Olive was employed by Sacred Heart Hospital as a nurse for over 25 years and took great pride in her work and was well respected by her colleagues.  Olive loved being a nurse.

Olive loved to travel.  She especially enjoyed taking her daughter and granddaughters to New York City every December to see the Christmas displays and Broadway shows, spending time on the beach in Ocean City, and playing the slots in Atlantic City.  Fiercely independent, Olive lived alone and enjoyed reading, completing crossword puzzles and feeding the wildlife from her deck and drove until recently.   Olive was an outstanding cook and baker and took great pride in cooking Sunday dinner for her family which she continued to do up until two months ago.

Olive greatly enjoyed watching her great-granddaughter Olivia grow over the last four years and Olivia loved to dance and sing for her Nana.  She was also overjoyed ten months ago when baby Cooper was born, the first male in the family in over fifty years, and heard his first words in the last several weeks.

Olive’s granddaughters were the light of her life and she was proud of everything they have accomplished.  Growing up, she supported them in everything they did, never missing a dance recital, sporting event, graduation, or a pageant.

Olive was a strong individual, overcame tremendous hardship in her life, and was a role model to her family.  She was loved greatly and we will forever miss her.

“We love you Mommy, Mom, Nana”

Per her request a private celebration of her life will be held by the family.

The family extends its gratitude to the Western Maryland Health System’s Hospice staff and her care provider Malana for their care and compassion in Olive’s final days.