Funeral Service Livestream

Joshua Paul Olin passed away peacefully but unexpectedly on February 18, 2023. He was born July 1, 1971, to Reverends Gary and Judith Stone Olin.  He was raised with two older siblings, Jennifer and Nathan. Josh enjoyed several communities in his childhood and graduated from Liberty High School in the Youngstown area in 1989. He earned his B.A. from Baldwin Wallace University in 1993 and thereafter an M.A. in creative writing. He married his love, Kelly McLaren-Olin, in 1994.  Josh began a career in advertising but soon found his true calling as an educator.  He started teaching at Mapleton High School in 1997, where he was a beloved teacher, colleague, coach, and mentor for 26 years. He was known as a caring teacher who made learning fun and a dedicated coach of track, basketball, and cross country, and the director of the drama program. He was the President of the Mapleton Teachers Association. He was a devoted husband to his wife and a loving father to his daughters, Cameron and Bailey. He was known for his sense of humor, generous nature, and positive outlook.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Judith Stone Olin; father-in-law, John McLaren; and nephew, Jordan Paul Olin-Hitt.

He is survived by wife Kelly; daughters, Cameron and Bailey; father, The Reverend Dr. Gary Olin; stepmother, Reverend Sally Nelson-Olin; sister, Jennifer Olin-Hitt (Michael); brother, Nathan Olin (Joanna); mother-in-law, Betty Jo McLaren; sister-in-law, Kristen (Steve) McLaren Treu; nieces and nephews, Phoebe (Cody), Wesley, Sofie, Lydia, Austin, Veridy, and Aidan.

Calling hours will be Thursday, February 23, 2023, from 3:00-8:00 p.m., at Waite & Son Funeral Home, 765 N. Court St., Medina, OH 44256. A memorial will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023; greeting from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m., at the Medina United Church of Christ, 217 E. Liberty St., Medina, OH  44256.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Mapleton Local School District, 635 Co. Rd. 801, Ashland, OH 44805 or to Medina United Church of Christ, 217 E. Liberty St., Medina, OH 44256.