Tributes

Major (Ret.) Anthony (Tony) Wane Oliver (August 1959 - October 2024) passed away on October 1, 2024, from an aggressive form of cancer and additional service-connected medical complications. Tony, ( “ The Major” ) was born in Corvallis, Oregon, and grew up enjoying the life of a small-town kid with his brothers Duke and Scott, sister Jenny and parents Dave and Bette. His favorite place in the whole world was always the family cabin on the Oregon coast, which his grandfather built in 1935 on land he purchased for ten dollars. The cabin offered everything a young boy could dream of - Tony spent countless hours there hunting, fishing, hiking, chopping wood, beachcombing, and telling stories by the massive fireplace. Later in life Tony would deploy to fifty-two different countries as part of his accomplished career in the U.S. Army, but he always returned to the cabin, where his boyhood pastimes became life-long passions. Especially the story telling. A natural and gifted athlete, Tony excelled on the football field. He often said that he wasn’t the biggest or the fastest but that nobody had more self-discipline, work ethic, passion, or pride than he did. From Highland View Junior High School, through South Salem High and Oregon Institute of Technology, he loved being part of a team. Like many athletes, the leadership skills he acquired playing a game that he loved served him well later in life, where he earned the admiration of those with whom he served. As an Infantry officer, Tony was proudest of his graduation from Ranger School, the Army’s most challenging course. He loved being a soldier and distinguished himself as a Ranger officer in several respects, including while serving multiple deployments as a combat leader in Afghanistan, where he left a dynamic and lasting impression among those who fought alongside him. Prior to Afghanistan he served in Kosovo, where General (ret) Peter Zwack described Tony’s service as follows: “The most extraordinary performance I’ve seen by one of the most dedicated, committed, and proud officers I have ever had the honor to work with during my 24 years of Army service…this officer has been the cornerstone of success of all the top-level operations in KFOR. Give him the toughest sensitive operational jobs in the Army that bisect with intelligence – he will excel.” Shortly after his retirement the Albany Democrat-Herald interviewed Tony at a Veteran’s Day Memorial service. Reflecting on his storied military career and deployments across the globe Tony said, America remains the “light in the darkness around the world.” With this in mind, Tony worked passionately to ensure safe passage of interpreters who without a doubt saved the lives of many US soldiers. While in Kosovo, Tony gained more than just the respect of his superior officers. After a bit of pushing and prodding from mutual friends, Tony’s junior high school crush and Scottie cheerleader - Beth Baumgartner, reached out to him while he was stationed there. The two happily re-connected and married in 2006. Upon retirement, they bought a 20-acre timber farm near their shared childhood home of Corvallis. It was a beautiful place to build a life together and to which Tony and Beth, and their dogs Tex, Libby and Rosie would welcome all sorts of family and friends, including Tony’s son Jeb and daughter-in-law Rachael and two grand-daughters Ari and June. Beth was always amazed that Tony, who discharged complex military strategies on a global scale, often could not remember what he was supposed to get at the grocery store but could remember in detail different outfits that she had worn in Junior High School. Tony had a fierce love for his family, his friends, his country, and his dogs. The biggest joy in his life was his son Jeb. They shared a love for history, hiking, any kind of adventure, museums, hunting and all things military. They talked nearly every day on the phone, sometimes for five minutes and sometimes for an hour. The night before he passed away, Jeb and Tony sat together in the hospital planning their next big elk hunt. They had an incredible bond and Tony was extremely proud of him. In all aspects of his life, Tony lived by a strong moral code. No matter what the situation, you stick to your guns and do the right thing. In his words, “Do the hard right over the wrong easy.” While his life was cut short by a rough battle with cancer, he lived a full life, and he lived it in his own way. Tony is survived by his wife, Beth; his son Jeb, daughter-in-law Rachel, their children Ari and June; two dogs; his siblings Scott and Jenny; numerous nieces and nephews and many, many friends. Tony was pre-deceased by his parents and his oldest brother Duke. Together, the Oliver and Baumgartner families invite you to join us for A Celebration of Life on Sunday, December 8th at The Officer’s Club in Adair Village at 2:00 P.M. Arrangements are being handled by McHenry Funeral Home. Please share your thoughts and memories for the family at www.McHenryFuneralHome.com.

Tributes

Anthony "Tony" Wane Oliver

August 8, 1959 - October 1, 2024