Kent Olinger, 66, Columbus, Ind.

After six weeks of avoiding medical care and echoing the refrain of feeling fine, Kent passed away at Columbus Regional Hospital on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, following a cardiac event.

Born “four years before the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address”, on November 19, 1959, in Huntingburg, Indiana, he was a history buff, world traveler, ski enthusiast, journalist, proud Purdue Boilermaker, photographer, space enthusiast, and small-plane pilot.

Kent graduated from Southridge High School in 1978 and from Purdue University in 1982, where he spent most of his time in the Purdue Sports Information office, making lifelong friends and enjoying being in the hub of Purdue sports at Mackey Arena.

Following graduation from Purdue, he moved to Germany and stayed for several years as a travel writer and, eventually, the editor of Overseas magazine, published primarily for the US military stationed in Europe. There he fell in love with world travel, skiing in the Alps and World War II history. In a later stint in Germany, he worked for the military as a civilian.

For several years, he instructed skiing at Paoli Peaks ski area, freelanced as a photographer, and worked at Pizza Hut in Huntingburg. He preferred planning, dreaming and scheming European ski tours.

In 1994 Kent and other alumni teamed up to re-charter the Purdue Club of Dubois County. Kent eventually served the role of President for two terms, planned the annual Grissom Classic golf tournament for numerous years, organized and manned the Strassenfest Hoop-Shoot fundraiser, all to fulfill his passion of awarding the Gus Grissom Scholarships to area high school students attending the West Lafayette Campus of Purdue.

In the fall of 2020, he moved to Columbus, Indiana, where he established himself as an active member and officer of the Viewfinders Photography Club. Photography was his lifelong passion.

Kent is survived by his beloved cat, Smoky (AKA Fuzzy), sister, Laura Olinger (Greg Tucker) of Boulder, Colorado and nieces Amalia Frick of Englewood, Colorado and Hannah Frick of Brooklyn, New York.

His parents, Norb and Judy Olinger, predeceased him.

Kent was adamant that there be no funeral or memorial services.

Memorial contributions may be made to these organizations that were important to him:
Gus Grissom Scholarship fund of the Purdue Club of Dubois County, by way of – https://connect.purdue.edu/s/givenow search for “Purdue Club of Dubois County Scholarship” under
“CLICK HERE TO SELECT YOUR FUND(S)”, then “IN MEMORY/ HONOR OF“ Viewfinder’s Photography Club of Columbus, c/o Tim Ostrander, Treasurer. 1431 Parkside Dr., Columbus, IN
47203

Columbus Animal Care Services (https://www.columbus.in.gov/animal-care-services/)