Peter David Ollar died peacefully at his home on April 3rd, 2025. He was born on November 29, 1941 in Sandusky, Ohio to parents Betty and Pete Ollar. He graduated from Berea High School in Ohio and received a B.S. degree in management science from Case Institute of Technology, later renamed Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. His career path over the next sixteen years included plant management for Packard Electric (division of GM), Ohio Nuclear, and Asemco. In 1980 he bought and managed the Pine Forest Raquet Club in Albany Ga. In 1986 he moved to Jackson to manage a Dairy Queen franchise that he owned with some friends. Here in Jackson, he met and married the former Martha Edmonds McNair in 1987. He got a teaching certificate and began teaching math and coaching tennis at Jackson Prep in 1988. He could be heard saying “Although the Dairy Queen venture was a complete disaster, it led to his finding both true love with his wife Martha and his true vocation in teaching at Prep” where he taught for the next 25 years.
While at Prep, David also coached basketball, Quiz Bowl, and Math Counts. He loved his students dearly and would leave home at 6:30 every morning to be available until classes started to tutor any Prep student who needed extra help with math. He taught both resource classes and advanced classes and delighted in seeing anyone grow to love and respect math. His students loved him in turn and were amazed by this man who sat at red lights and factored the numbers of the car tags in front of him. He was named Star Teacher multiple times as well as Allstar Teacher by the Mississippi Economic Council.
David and Martha enjoyed 38 happy years together and spent time when not teaching school traveling all over the world, reading good books, playing Duplicate Bridge, playing golf at the Refuge, and even owning a historic apartment in New Orleans’ French Quarter where they enjoyed many weekends and holidays with their family and friends and also the satisfaction of contributing to the historical preservation of their property and its courtyard.
He was predeceased by his son Teddy Ollar and is survived by his wife Martha and four children and two stepchildren: Phillip Ollar (Vanessa) of Greenville S.C.; John Ollar (Staci) of Atlanta Ga.; Carrie Yule (Greg) of Seattle Wash.; and Daniel Ollar (Juliette) of Atlanta Ga.: Andy McNair (Robin) of Brandon; and Patrick McNair (Stacy) of Yellowstone Mont. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and two step grandchildren: Dave, Sammie, Katherine, Elizabeth, Finn, Liam, Ramona, and Ophelia Ollar; Nathan McNair, and Lindsey Luley. Three brothers who live in Ohio also survive David: Dean, Chris, and Dick Ollar.
A celebration of David’s life will be held at his home at 596 Spring Lake Drive in Pearl on April 27. The family and close friends will gather at 1:00 for a private service followed by a reception from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. that is open to all who have known and loved “Mr. Ollar.” Donations can be made to the annual fund at Jackson Prep, the Salvation Army and St. Jude.
Special thanks to Dr. Douglas Wolfe and his nurse Roma, and caretakers Deanna Pope, Samantha Johnson, Stacy Stewart and Brittany Hines for their tender care.
Visit wrightferguson.com to sign the online guestbook.
