On May 9, 2008 the Lord called Reverend Gilbert Olson home to heaven after a five week illness. He lives on in the hearts and memories of those who knew him and the impact he had on the Richmond and Sacramento churches.

On October 25, 1931, Gilbert was born in Portland, Oregon. Over sixty-five years ago in March of 1942 he was saved. He started taking violin lessons with Bro. George Hughes and in 1947 at our annual Portland Camp Meeting he started to play the bass viol in the main church orchestra. He and his wife Phyllis were married January 5, 1953 while he was on leave from the Air Force. Later in 1953 they stationed him in Germany for two years. During that time he and his wife, Phyllis had the first of 6 children.

In 1969, Reverend Olson and his family moved from Portland, Oregon to the Bay Area and became a part of the San Francisco congregation. Between the years of 1984 and 1985, he and his wife began driving back and forth from their home in Benicia to Sacramento to hold cottage meetings at individual homes. In 1986 the pastor of the San Francisco Church told Bro. Gilbert to go to Sacramento to start a church. The first Sacramento Apostolic Faith Church service was held in their newly purchased home. When their house was no longer large enough to hold everyone attending the meetings they moved services to the North Highland Community Center and began looking for a permanent building to hold church. The Lord led them to an old turkey hatchery, which was remodeled into the present Sacramento church location. In 1990 this building was dedicated to the Lord's work and Bro. Gilbert continued as the Pastor until 1997. After the passing of his wife Phyllis in 1994, Bro. Gilbert married Bernice Kramer in 1995.

In February of 1997 they moved back to the Bay Area and he continued serving the Lord here on the ministerial staff and as Sunday School teacher to the Senior Adults. He played the violin in special orchestra performances. The Richmond congregation enjoyed Bro. Gilbert's thoughtful Bible Studies and enthusiastic testimony. He was often heard saying, “When they asked me if it was hard being a Christian I answered . . . ‘It is the ONLY way!'”

Reverend Olson had six children, twelve grandchildren and three great-grand children.