Obituary of Olga Hickenbottom

Olga Leona Hickenbottom, 80, of Salinas, passed away on July 7, 2014. She was born June 13, 1934 in Reed Springs, Missouri, to Luther Henry Packwood and Sarah Adaline Hardin. Olga grew up in a variety of small towns near Springfield, Missouri. She loved to hang out with her sister Shirley and niece Kay, but she also loved to study. Olga graduated with top honors from Republic High School in Missouri at the age of 17. Her parents immediately packed up the kids and moved to California. Olga moved in with her brother and sister-in-law in the Salinas area in 1952. Three years later, when Olga was 21, she began working at the Drive ’N’ Eat restaurant. She soon became co-owner and manager, and worked there for 21 years. After the drive-in was closed, she developed a passion for city politics. She was a volunteer for the Seaside city council for several years. She also enjoyed a number of hobbies, including creative writing and playing bunco with her friends. She was devoted to her family, and took care of her ex-husband when he was stricken with parkinson’s disease until his death in 1996. Sadly she developed the same disease, and passed away peacefully in her sleep at her son’s home 18 years later. She was truly the last of her generation, being preceded in death by both of her parents and all 8 of her siblings. She will be greatly missed by her two sons Mike & Mark, her niece Kay Pedro (who was more like a sister than a niece), her best friend Michelle Seaton, and other relatives and friends. Graveside Services will be held Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 850 Abbott St., Salinas, CA 93901