Noted Furniture Designer O.B. Solie, ASFD, Passes

Furniture World Magazine

The noted furniture designer O.B. Solie, of Rockford (Illinois), died on Oct. 19, 2006. Born Oct. 29, 1925 in Thorp, Wisconsin., the son of Henry and Jennie (Dahl) Solie. O.B. served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on a mine sweeper around Japan. He married Lorraine M. Ormson, May 24, 1952 in Madison, Wisconsin. He received B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Art/Design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating with high honors. He was an Associate with Ernest L. Swarts Design Studio from 1951 to 1964. He then started his own design company, OB Ltd, (Inc.). For more than 30 years, Mr Solie was the designer for Ello Furniture working with owner, Larry Molton. He received many awards, including the 1988 ASFD Distinguished Designer Award, American Walnut Fashion Award, Resources Council Product Design Award, National Home Fashions League Award. His work was featured in the 2002 Furniture, Drawings by O.B. Solie Exhibit at Furniture Discovery Center, High Point, N.C. He also served as ASFD Director, Vice President, and Chairman, 1984 to 1989, an organization which he helped to establish and which, honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. For nearly 40 years, Mr. Solie traveled to the Spring and Fall Furniture Markets in High Point, N.C., presenting his latest designs. He also made annual trips to Germany and Italy touring the European showrooms. There is a long standing mystery surrounding O.B.'s surname and what it stands for. Rumors have included, Old Badger, Old Boy, Off Broadway, Old Brigadier, Old Beloved, Old Beautiful and many others, but that mystery now becomes legend. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine of Rockford, daughter Susan (James) Patterson of Palm Beach, Fla., grandson, Jack, brother, Marshall (Gert) Solie of Cornell, Wis., nephew, John Solie, niece, Karen (Gino) Lambo, sister-in-law, Romelle (Sam) Roth, brothers-in-law, Jim (Jean) Ormson and Gib (Karla) Ormson, and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be sent to American Parkinson Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305, or Our Savior's Lutheran Church. To share a memory or send a condolence, visit www.olsonfh.com.