St. Mary’s Stained Glass Windows- Evangelist Mark
Window dedicated to Lt. Victor Ollife, killed 8-1-1943.
Victor, a member of St. Mary’s parish, was killed in an American bomber raid on
the Ploesti oil fields in Romania. His B-24, “Let Her Rip,” was one of 54
bombers lost. The raid destroyed 40% of the plants’ productive capacity. His
parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Ollife, lived at 929 Franklin, now the site of the
Wells Fargo Bank. His brother graduated from Napa High Class of 1932 and later
served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. Victor entered flight school in March
1942, graduated May 1942, and then in June married Betty Haite of Sacramento.
He was a graduate of Napa High and U.C. Davis. After serving in Europe, he was
transferred to the Middle East, serving in the 9th Air Force. At the
time of his death, he was 27 years of age, leaving a wife, parents, and a
brother serving in the Pacific.
Our Parish church has been beautifully enhanced over the years by parishioners who have lovingly dedicated windows to their loved ones. Sadly, since there are no known relatives, information from the U.S. Census and City Directories has been gleaned; such gleanings cannot be verified.
This is a portion of an article that originally appeared in St. Mary’s March 2015 e-news, prepared by Mary Belli, editor and publisher.