Deborah Smith Olien, 72, of Williamsburg, Virginia and formerly of Madison, Wisconsin and Champaign, Illinois, died on July 22, 2025.
She was born in Champaign, Illinois on February 6, 1953, to Harriet Josephine Coffman Smith and Cecil Dale Smith. In 1975, she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she double majored in American history and psychology and minored in anthropology.
Deborah was a proud member and president of Kappa Alpha Theta, the first Greek letter fraternity known among women. After graduation, she worked for Theta as a traveling consultant. She then returned to the University of Illinois and completed a master’s degree in higher education administration in 1979. She served as a Development Officer for the University of Illinois Foundation and as Library Friends Coordinator for the University of Illinois Library.
Deborah married David William Olien on November 28, 1981, in Champaign. In 1993, they moved to Madison, Wisconsin, followed by Williamsburg, Virginia in 2019. Deborah was long active in Junior League, P.E.O., Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae chapters, and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
In Williamsburg she was active in numerous groups and clubs and the Tidewater Virginia Historical Society. Deborah’s interests included travel, literature, history, theater, ballet, genealogy, antiques, entertaining, and Fighting Illini and Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Elizabeth Counts (Richard) of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Dr. Catherine Olien (Dr. Florent McIsaac) of Vienna, Virginia; four grandchildren; and two brothers, Dr. Douglas Smith (Karen) of Wilmington, North Carolina and David Smith (Kathryn) of Bethalto, Illinois.
Her sister Sharon Smith Hult preceded her in death.
A celebration of Deborah’s life will take place in Williamsburg at a later time. Memorial gifts may be made to the University of Illinois Library.
