William H. Orr

William H. Orr, life-long resident of the Beaver Valley and long-time resident of Brighton Twp., went Home to be with the Lord on June 10th 2017 at the age of 91. Bill was well known as a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grand-father, and as a tremendous role model and shining example of steadfast faith and integrity. He was surrounded by family when he passed away while under Hospice Care at his son’s home in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Bill was born in Beaver Falls, PA, on June 22, 1925, to the late George R. and Margaret M. Orr. He attended Beaver Falls High School where he served as Class President all three years. He then attended Geneva College and majored in Industrial Engineering. While still a sophomore at Geneva, he enlisted in the Navy and served as a signalman and member of the Armed Guard aboard several Merchant Marine ships in the Pacific Theater and, after the war, served in the Persian Gulf and Far East. After returning from the war, he graduated as part of Geneva’s first class of Industrial Engineers and married the love of his life, Elizabeth “Libby” Gissel of Rochester, PA. They were married in 1947 and celebrated sixty-seven wonderful years together before Libby’s death in 2015

Bill was employed by American Bridge, US Steel, Crucible Steel, Fidelity Mutual, and Westinghouse before retiring in 1987. He was an extremely active as a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Rochester and then of Hope Lutheran Church in Brighton Twp. where he served as Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent, and member of the Church Councils. He also served on the boards of various agencies around Beaver County and recently received his seventy-year pin from the Masonic Lodge. He was an avid tennis player and golfer, and loved time spent with family, traveling, reading, and relaxing.

In addition to his parents and loving wife Libby, Bill was preceded by his older sister Jean Orr High.

He survived by his younger brother George R. Orr, Jr. of Beaver, Pa., his two sons, Pastor Kirk (Vicki) Orr of Lower Burrell PA, and Pastor Mark (DJ) Orr of N. Myrtle Beach, SC. He is also survived by four grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Friends will be received Thursday, June 15, 2017 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the SAUL-GABAUER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 273 Route 68 Rochester (GPS 848 Sunflower Road adjacent to Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum). His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 16, 2017 at Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, 45 Maple Drive, Beaver, PA. The public is respectfully asked to go directly to the church on Friday morning.

Military Honors will be presented by members of the Beaver County Special Unit, 12 noon on Friday at the church.

If desired, memorial contributions may be directed to the church. On line condolences may be offered at www.saul-gabauer.com