Cynthia Deitz Olson peacefully passed away Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Atlantic Shores retirement community in Virginia Beach, surrounded by her husband, Steve, her daughter, Julie, and her family. She was 79 years old.
Cynthia, known as “C-A” to her family and hometown friends, was born in Charleston, and grew up in Richwood. She was a sweetheart of the Cherry River Navy.
She was the daughter of the late Oakford Deitz, a World War II Navy veteran and Superintendent of Schools in Nicholas County, and Lyda Deitz, a teacher at Richwood High School.
Cynthia was an exceptionally bright woman. She attended West Virginia University, earning a BA in Mathematics and an MS in Statistics in the 1960s. She began her career at WVU as a teacher and consultant. She was recruited by Texas Instruments (TI) in 1979 to join the Defense Systems and Electronics Group in their Advanced Computer Software Laboratory – ACSL. She worked at TI for 20 years and contributed to early artificial intelligence initiatives funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). She ultimately served as Deputy Director of the Texas Instruments Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
Those accomplishments were impressive, but they were never what defined Cynthia to the people who loved her. Cynthia was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin and friend. She was warm, kind and gentle, with a generous heart and a quiet way of making people feel cared for. She was the kind of person who remembered what mattered to the people she loved and was always there for them. She cherished family gatherings, good food, conversation and laughter. Most of all, Cynthia was an extraordinary grandmother aka MeMe. She adored her grandchildren and took tremendous joy in watching them grow, celebrating their accomplishments, and simply being part of their lives.
She was also the “mother hen” and matriarch among her cousins, looking after them and encouraging them through their years at WVU and beyond. Family was at the center of Cynthia’s life, and she never lost sight of the importance of taking care of the people she loved.
Cynthia and Steve retired in Pocahontas County. Their beloved log home on the banks of the Greenbrier River became a gathering place for family and friends and the setting for countless happy memories. Cynthia and Steve loved opening their home to others, and those gatherings remain part of the legacy she leaves behind.
Cynthia was active in her church and brought new energy to the food program serving at-risk youth in Pocahontas County. She was also a generous supporter of the Pocahontas Opera House.
Cynthia had always hoped to spend the rest of her life in her home on the Greenbrier River. When Alzheimer’s disease began to change her life in 2021, she and Steve purchased a small second home at Atlantic Shores in Virginia Beach, just minutes from Julie and her family.
Over the years of Cynthia’s decline, the staff at Atlantic Shores became an important part of her life and of her family’s lives. Her family will always be deeply grateful to the nurses, aides and entire Atlantic Shores team who cared for Cynthia with patience, compassion and dignity.
In addition to her parents, Cynthia was preceded in death by her sister, Maria Faulkner.
She is survived by her husband, Steve; daughter, Julie Marchesi; son-in-law, Captain Shane Marchesi, USN; stepdaughter, Erin; grandchildren, Tommy, Jack, Kate, Leilani, James and Eleanor; brother, “Wire” Deitz; niece, Jourdan Deitz; beloved Vaughan cousins, Mac, Jim and Pete; and brother-in-law, John Olson, and wife, Jill.
Cynthia had a great fondness for the Navy and the United States Naval Academy, the school attended by Steve, Shane and Tommy, and where Julie and Shane were married. Her cremains will be interred at the Naval Academy Columbarium.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held at Saint John Neumann Church in Marlinton, Saturday, October 17, 2026. at 11a.m. with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Lyda Deitz Scholarship Fund at Richwood High School, WV, 26261.
