Kathryn Olbricht

Kathryn Olbricht, age 91, of Baldwinsville, New York, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, surrounded by her loving daughters. Born in Damascus, Arkansas, to Ray and Oneta Privett, Kathryn lived a beautiful life marked by faith, resilience, and an unwavering trust in God. Her deep strength and perseverance were shaped through years of relying on the Lord in both seasons of joy and of difficulty. She graduated from South Side High School in 1951 and studied Elementary Education at Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas. There, she met the love of her life, Glenn Olbricht. At first, it was his warm smile that caught her attention—but it was his heart for God and their shared desire to serve Him that truly won her heart. They were married on August 15, 1954, at her family home in Damascus, beginning a journey of nearly 58 years filled with love, purpose, and ministry. Kathryn and Glenn devoted their lives to serving the church. After starting their ministry in Ironton, Ohio, they followed God’s call to Nurnberg, Germany in 1959 as missionaries. With incredible courage and trust, Kathryn sailed across the ocean with three young children, ready to share the gospel of Christ. In Germany, she faithfully served alongside Glenn as they ministered to both the German community and American military families, creating a home that overflowed with warmth, comfort, and hospitality. Eventually, the family settled in upstate New York, where Kathryn’s faithful service continued as she and Glenn raised their four children in a Christ-centered home filled with laughter, good food, and the Word of God. While in New York, Kathryn earned her master’s degree from Syracuse University and poured her heart into working with special education and homebound students. She touched countless lives not only through teaching but through her deep compassion and care. Kathryn and Glenn ministered at the Southside, Eastside, and Wetzel Road Churches of Christ. Her heart for children was a lifelong calling, beginning in her youth as she lovingly helped care for and train her younger sisters. Over the years, she taught Bible classes, helped start the Syracuse Christian School, served as church secretary, and established the prayer ministry at Wetzel Road that still encourages many today. Her love for young people also led her to many joyful years of service at Camp Hunt, where she gave generously of herself and reflected Christ’s love to all who came. Kathryn’s greatest joys were found in simple things—cooking a meal, sewing something special, and sharing time with her friends and family. Her grandchildren will miss her infectious laugh, the twinkle in her eye, and the way she made them each feel like they were her favorite—which they all secretly think they were. She was preceded in death by her father, Ray, and her beloved and devoted mother, Oneta Privett, faithful loving husband, Glenn, and their precious son, Ray. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters: Anita Bourdeau, Glenda (John) Grigson, and Diana (David) Owens; her seven cherished grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and her beloved sisters JoAnn McMillen, Nancy Pierce, and Reba Wessel, along with their families, who affectionately called her “Kaco.” A memorial service to celebrate Kathryn’s life and faith will be held on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at the Wetzel Road Church of Christ, 4268 Wetzel Rd., Liverpool, NY 13090. Visitation will begin at 3:00, with the service to follow at 4:30. All are warmly invited to stay afterward for a shared meal and time of fellowship in the church foyer. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Camp Hunt, PO Box 2358, Liverpool, NY 13089

Tributes

Kathryn Olbricht

July 1, 2025