Obituary for Oscar Orr

Oscar Orr

(August 18, 1921 – January 23, 2017)

Oscar Dale Orr passed away on Monday, January 23, 2017, in his home surrounded by family.

Dale was born on August 18, 1921, in Cleveland, Oklahoma, the son of Charles Oscar Orr and Artha Opal Riggins Orr. The child of a Gulf Oil Field employee, he received his early education from Seminole, Tonkawa, Shidler, and Perry schools in Oklahoma as well as Caldwell, Kansas. He graduated from Winfield Kansas High School in 1939. He continued his education at Oklahoma State University.

He began his career working at Aeroparts and Metal Craftsman in Wichita, Kansas. In 1944, he enlisted in the United States Army. He was a WWII veteran having served in the Company L 311th Infantry. On November 30, 1946, he married Christine Marie Tanner in Winfield, Kansas. They had met while in grade school. From Kansas, they moved to a farm east of Ponca City and started a dairy operation which lasted for several years. While continuing to farm, he also worked as a farmer for Johnny Riggs and helped build many of the homes in what is known as the Riggs Addition in Ponca City. He worked in the refinery and as a draftsman for Cities Service. He also attended Ponca City Beauty College where he received an advanced license and opened and operated Crestview Beauty Salon for a time. In 1966, he found his dream job at Strother Field, north of Arkansas City, Kansas, where he became a jet engine mechanic for General Electric Company. He retired from GE but went on to work and train employees at BizJet in Tulsa for another two years. Dale continued farming until Kaw Dam was built and the lake consumed his property.

Dale was an active member of his community. He was named Ponca City Hospital volunteer of the year, having spent hours helping wherever he was needed. He was especially fond of working in the ICU where he could talk to anyone about anything at anytime. He served on the Rural Water Board, was a board member of the Kay Baptist Association, and worked for the Kay County Election Board.

Dale was an active member of Longwood Baptist Church until his wife’s health began to fail. He was a sponsor and cook for Kamp Kay children’s camp and Falls Creek youth camp and enjoyed teaching Vacation Bible School for many years. He served as Sunday School Director as well as various committees in the church. His service extended internationally as he participated in mission trips to Argentina and Mexico. He later moved his membership to Oak Grove Baptist Church in Kaw City, Oklahoma. He loved the Lord and lived his faith by example.

He was a loyal, dependable, hard-working man who loved to laugh, work with his hands, tell stories, and just have fun. He will certainly be missed by those who knew him.

He is survived by his son, Charles Orr and wife Judi; daughters, Marlena Freeman and husband Lester; Opal Upshaw and husband Steve; grandchildren, Jeffrey Orr and wife Mandy, Matthew Orr and wife Natalie, Becka Gonzales and husband Benito, Risa Carter and husband Bryan, Aaron Upshaw and wife Jessica, Lara Hensley and husband Eric; Also, great-grandchildren, Colton, Gracie, Kailee, and Maddie Orr; Cooper, Cash, and Cale Orr; Caroline and Lorin Carter; Nash Upshaw, Reese Hensley and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jack Orr and wife Juanita, Raymond Orr and wife Anne; brother-in-law, Harold Tanner and wife Elaine; sister-in-law, Pauline Finley and husband Virgil; and nephew, Mitchell Orr.

Services will be held at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Kaw City, OK on Saturday, January 28, at 10 a.m. Officiating will be Rev. Gary Wilburn. Burial will follow at Longwood Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory. Viewing will be Thursday and Friday.

Casketbearers will be Jeffrey Orr, Matthew Orr, Aaron Upshaw, Bryan Carter, Benito Gonzales, and Eric Hensley. Honorary casketbearers will be Charles Orr, Lester Freeman and Steve Upshaw.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in the name of Oscar Dale Orr to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home