Frank Olenchak
May 8, 1928 ~ August 24, 2016 (age 88) 88 Years OldShare using:
Dr. Frank Richard Olenchak, 88, passed away at his home in Columbia on Wednesday, August 24, 2016.
Dr. Olenchak was born August 5, 1928 to the late Frank Richard Olenchak, Sr. and Helen Fukan in Scranton, PA. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from James Madison University, a Master of Education degree from Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph. D in Music: Music Education from the University of Michigan. He was a teacher and professor of music, music education and education for many years at public and private schools and universities in Virginia, Maryland, Michigan and South Carolina. He served as choir director at Third Lutheran Church in Baltimore and Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia. He was a truly kind, outgoing, caring and giving man who never left a room without having made a new friend first. He was known by some in the Columbia area as “The Werther’s Man” because of his fondness for giving out Werther’s candies to employees and other customers at restaurants he and his wife frequented.
Dr. Olenchak is survived by his wife of 67 years, Patricia Maye Ingram Olenchak; his children, Dr. Richard Olenchak III, Rebecca Olenchak and Jeffrey Olenchak; daughter-in-law Pamela Knop Olenchak; granddaughter Lawren Olenchak Bercaw; her husband Dr. Jamin Bercaw; and great-grandson Albrecht Joshua Bercaw.
Cremation will be performed by Kornegay & Moseley Funeral Home . While the family has elected to forgo formal memorial services, a guestbook has been established at www.legacy.com for posting memorial messages. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Olenchak’s memory to: PETS Inc., P.O. Box 6394, West Columbia, SC 29171.
