Obituaries : James C. Olin, 75; Camarillo Retired Butcher

James C. Olin of Camarillo, a retired butcher who once sold custom cuts of meat to Bob Hope, died Saturday at his home in Camarillo.

He was 75.

Olin was born Jan. 9, 1921, in Winnipeg, Canada. His brother-in-law, Herman Bennett of Camarillo, described Olin as “a real nice man, always happy-go-lucky.”

Olin was a longtime meat cutter who worked for the major supermarkets--Vons, Ralphs and Safeway. At one time he operated his own butcher shop in the Larchmont area of Hollywood, Bennett said.

Being “in the right place at the right time” brought Olin in contact with some of Hollywood’s famous, including Hope.

“The stars used to call up, or they’d have their assistants call, and [Olin] would deliver meat to them,” Bennett said.

Olin was welcomed into the close-knit Bennett family in 1949, when he married Hazel Bennett. To this day, four Bennett siblings live just doors from each other on the same street in Camarillo.

Olin and his wife had lived in Camarillo for 16 years, after spending six years in Simi Valley.

Olin was an opera buff and as a younger man would sing in performances at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, his brother-in-law said.

“I think he liked his opera more than anything else,” Bennett said.

Olin is survived by his wife, Hazel B. Olin.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Camarillo.

A memorial service is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Little Sister Country Chapel at Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood. Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park.