Obituary for Elbridge Orr

Elbrige Orr

(November 7, 1921 – December 29, 2015)

Elbrige Winfield Orr passed away Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at Via Christi, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 2, 2016 with the graveside at 10:00 A.M. at Resthaven Cemetery. A Memorial Service will follow at 11:30 A.M. at First Baptist Church Chapel.

Elbrige was born in Carter, Oklahoma on November 7, 1921, to William and Irene Orr. In school, he was active in basketball, track, scouting, and sang tenor in the boy’s quartet. During his last three years in high school, he helped support the family by working as an assistant janitor and, during his senior year, drove a school bus. In 1933, he joined the First Baptist Church in Carter and was active in the youth group and church choir.

Following high school, Elbrige attended the University of Oklahoma his freshman year and worked on campus, typing up identification cards for the paleontology department. Through the NYA program, he moved to Tonkawa to attend Radio School.

While attending the First Baptist Church in Tonkawa, Elbrige met Helen Margaret Thompson. After graduation from Radio School, he accepted a job at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, installing and testing radio equipment in B-24 Bombers. He worked there for seven months before joining the US Coast Guard as a Radioman. His first assignment was the Coast Guard Radio Station in Galveston, Texas. Margaret joined him in Galveston and they were married on March 27, 1943.

Elbrige’s next duty was aboard the AOG35, serving the South Atlantic, Caribbean and North Pacific. He was transferred to the San Diego Naval Hospital for surgery. While he was in the hospital, his ship was torpedoed and sunk with no survivors.

After serving four years during WWII, Elbrige was honorably discharged. He and Margaret moved to Ponca City to start their family. They joined First Baptist Church of Ponca City, where he remained an active member until his death. He and Margaret were blessed with two children; son, Kenneth and daughter, Sheryl.

During the Korean War, he was called back to duty, this time by the Navy. The family moved to Puerto Rico for two years, where he was assigned as a Chief Radioman connected with Navy Intelligence.

When they returned to Ponca City, Elbrige worked for Paris Furniture as a salesman before he and Margaret opened their own business, Orr’s TV & Appliance, which they owned and operated for 33 years. Elbrige became a member of the Lion’s Club in 1948. He served as president of the local club, and was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. Following their retirement, Elbrige and Margaret enjoyed camping and traveling in their RV until her passing in 2001.

Elbrige loved the water and enjoyed waterskiing and boating with his children and grandchildren. His radio training turned into a beloved hobby of being a HAM radio operator with the call of W5KLR. He enjoyed sharing stories of the many interesting people he’d spoken to and friends he’d made through his HAM radio.

In March of 2003, he married Wilma Caldwell. They enjoyed travelling and each other’s company until her passing in October of 2003.

Elbrige’s greatest love was for his Lord and family. He was a true example of a Christian gentleman who cherished his marriages and his family. Always the caretaker, he was known for his reassuring phrase, “Don’t worry about it.”

He is survived by his son, Kenneth Orr and wife Deanna; daughter, Sheryl Martin, all of Ponca City; sister, Dorothy Rosson of Shreveport, La; Sister-in-Law, Marge Thompson of Springfield, Mo; grandchildren: Kenny Orr and wife Cindy of Norman, Terri Stephenson of Ponca City, Jason Jones and wife Amy of Dallas, TX, Sundy Van Hauen and husband Travis of Kemah, Tx and Christine Martin of Ponca City; Great grandchildren: Heather Orr, Daniel Orr, Carson Van Hauen, Garrett Jones and Eliana Jones. He is also survived by Wilma’s children, Craig and Carol, numerous nieces and nephews and good friend Eva Lee Applegate of Denver, Co.

He was preceded in death by his parents; the two loves of his life, Margaret and Wilma; sister Ineta Swimm; brothers: William Orr and Eugene Orr; Brother in laws: Viv Thompson, Jim Rosson and Dick Swimm; Son in laws: Phillip Jones and Douglas Martin; Grandson in law: Tom Stephenson.

In lieu of flowers, the Orr Family has asked that memorial contributions be made to Ponca City Noon Lion’s Club, PO Box 532 Ponca City, Oklahoma 74602 or First Baptist Church, 218 South 6th Street Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home