Wesley Ernest Olds, 82, died peacefully at Craneville Place in Dalton on July 26.
Born on 25 January, 1942, he was the son of the late Howard E. and
Doris E. (Barr) Olds. Wes graduated from Pittsfield High School and the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass. He later earned an Associates in Fire Science from Berkshire Community College. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves as a medic before working as a chemist for General Electric in Pittsfield, then pursued a career with the Pittsfield Fire Department, retiring as a lieutenant.
Anyone who knew him will know that his true passion was farming. At his own small farm in Hinsdale for many years, he was happiest when milking the cows, feeding the hens, or picking sweetcorn. In addition to his work as a professional fire fighter, Wes started volunteering with the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department in 1961 as a junior firefighter and continued past his retirement, earning a gold badge in 2012 for 50 years of service. He wrote a history of the department and served as its safety officer.
He enjoyed exhibiting and volunteering at country fairs, especially Middlefield Fair, where he spent countless hours at work bees, served as Superintendent of Cattle, and won many blue ribbons. He read countless books, particularly those of Yorkshire veterinarian James Herriot, which he quoted at every opportunity. He also loved to dance and spent many Saturday nights square dancing with the Pittsfield Squares square dancing club.
He is survived by his devoted sister Ginny (Paul) Durwin of Pittsfield and his three daughters – Jean (Brian) Cann of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Julie Slater of Durham, England, and Jo (Tom) Carrick of Leeds, England. He is also survived by seven grandchildren – Ellen Slater, Ian Cann, Charlotte Cann, Benjamin Slater, Noah Cann, Iris Carrick, and Arlo Carrick. He is also survived by seven nephews–Michael, Brian, Joe and Nick Durwin, and David, Jr, Dan, and Doug Olds and their families, as well as his aunt and uncle Grace and Neil Wheeler and many cousins.
He was predeceased by his younger brother David in 2012.
His family would like to thank the staff at Craneville Place and Sugar Hill, his previous residence, as well as HospiceCare in the Berkshires who took wonderful care of him.
Funeral services will be held at First Congregational Church of Hinsdale, Massachusetts at 10a.m. on Saturday, August 10th. Burial will follow in Maple Street Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department or to Hospice Care in the Berkshires.
To share memories and stories please visit rochefuneralhome.com
