William Maxwell Oller's Obituary
Rear Admiral William Maxwell Oller, Retired U.S.Navy, on February 28, 2008 with his family by his side at Falcons Landing Retirement Community in Sterling, Virginia. Born in Lancaster, PA, on the 7th of April 1924, he attended J.P. McCaskey High School and Franklin & Marshall College in that city prior to entering the U.S. Navel Academy in June 1943. He was graduated from the Academy with the Class of 1947, and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University, Washington, DC.
His first assignment was on board the USS Fraser followed by duty at the Academy with the U.S. Olympic fencing team. He then served with the Island Government Unit at Pago Pago, Samoa and later at the Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, VA; on board USS Aucilla; as Supply Officer and Comptroller the Naval Ordinance Plant, Macon, GA; and on the staffs of Commander Naval Forces, Philippines, the Chief of Naval Operations, and NATO’s Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe. He was Executive Officer of NSC Newport, RI and after that tour was assigned to duty in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy as Director, Office of Information Systems Planning and Development.
His next assignment was Executive Officer, SPCC Mechanicsburg, PA, where he was selected for promotion to his present rank. He then served as Commander, Defense Fuel Supply Center, Cameron Station, Alexandria, VA, where he directed the worldwide procurement of all petroleum products for the federal government and inventory management for the Department of Defense. He served in this position throughout the Arab embargo. His last assignment was commanding Officer, Naval Supply Center, Norfolk, VA, the U.S. Navy’s largest distribution center.
His military decorations and awards include the Legion Of Merit (with Gold Star); the Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Star); Joint Service Commendation Medal; World War II American Theater; World War Occupation; World War II Victory; and National Defense Service Medal.
After retiring from the Navy in 1977, Admiral Oller joined Champlin Petroleum Company, first in Houston TX and later in Fort Worth, TX, as General Manager, Corporate Supply and Distribution. In 1981, he was named President, Petroleum Operations and Support Services, New Orleans, LA, where he directed the development and filling of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. During his tenure 250 million barrels of crude oil were added to the reserve, increasing the inventory by an additional fifty percent. His last employment was Executive Vice President, Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, Houston, TX, where he was responsible for operations, engineering and systems development. In this position he was able to modernize and automate operation of this extensive pipeline network. He retired from this position in 1990. During post-retirement he established Maxwell Woodworks, Inc. to pursue commercially his lifelong dedication to cabinetmaking.
Admiral Oller is married to the former Doris S. Greenleaf of Mountville, PA. They have two sons, Arthur (a retired Navy Captain), wife Lee and children Sophie, Devin and Scott who reside in Walnut Creek, CA; and J. Richard, wife Sean and children Olivia and Jack who resides in Bennington, VT. A third son, William Jr. is deceased.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday March 8th 2008 at the Falcons Landing Chapel, Falcons Landing Circle, Sterling, VA. Graveside services with full military honors will follow at 3:00pm on Tuesday May 6th 2008 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Friends should arrive at the administration building on the grounds by 2:30. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society 124 Park Street, SE Vienna, VA 22183-0699
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