David Lee Orwig

David Lee Orwig lived 89 happy years before passing peacefully into eternal life on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, at Epworth Villa in OKC, OK. He was surrounded by his wife and children. He entered Heaven on the Holiest of days that we celebrate as Christians.

David was born on August 29, 1930, in Wewoka, Oklahoma, to Elmer and Effie (Rhea) Orwig. He was the youngest of six children.

He attended grade school in Wewoka, then the family moved to Stillwater, OK in 1940 where he attended middle school. In 1945, they moved to Enid, OK where he graduated from Enid High School, class of 1948. He was proud to be elected the "Friendliest Boy" his senior year and won the State Championship playing drums.

Music was a significant element in his life so he went on to study at Philips University in Enid for one year on a music scholarship. He then transferred to Oklahoma State University, where he partially worked his way through college playing in a band, teaching drum lessons, and serving as a house boy at a sorority house. He was also in the marching band at OSU.

He became a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and was a pledge trainer. With the advent of the Korean War, he put his education on hold and served proudly in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. When he was discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1954, he returned to Oklahoma State University to complete his education. He was very fortunate to have met the love of his life, Sara Henson, of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. They were engaged and then married January 27, 1956, at Crown Heights United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

David graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Business.

David started his career with the APCO Oil Company identifying prospective land for new gas stations. The family briefly lived in Kansas and South Dakota during his tenure. He was a successful salesman at the Addressograph Multigraph Corporation. He then went into executive recruiting. He started his own headhunter company, Management Search, that he eventually retired from.

David was a lifelong fan of Oklahoma State football, basketball, baseball, and wrestling. He enjoyed listening to sports events on the radio, watching them on TV, and going to Stillwater whenever he had the opportunity. He won the honor of Oklahoma State’s “1998 OSU Football Fan of the Year” with the following entry: “Without OSU, I wouldn’t be educated, entertained, inspired, married or have three OSU alumni kids to continue the OSU family legacy.” David accepted this award at a football game halftime joined on field by his wife, Sara, and his five-year-old granddaughter, Hannah. Since then, his granddaughter, Hannah, graduated from OSU in 2015, and her twin sisters, Rachel and Ellen, are currently enrolled in their sophomore year at OSU.

Besides his love for OSU sports, David had other interests and endearing personality traits. He read copious amounts books about history. David had a sweet tooth that he spoiled with ice cream. He often baked brownies and cookies for the family (with and without nuts). His sense of humor included joking often, but most memorable were April Fool’s jokes for his grandchildren. He was also an excellent card player—specifically Bridge. One memory that shocked and amazed his children was his ability to dance. They first observed this when David and Sara were dancing with ease and grace at their daughter, Susan's wedding.

Loved and admired immensely by those who were recipients of his kindness, David was an active volunteer throughout his life. He coached little league baseball for his son Joe, served at the local food banks, and donated many gallons of blood. Later in life, he was involved with Whiz Kids for many years—an after-school program connecting under-served kids with caring mentors to build reading skills, confidence and moral character. He volunteered with Whiz Kids as a tutor and site coordinator.

David will be lovingly remembered for the following sentiment: "The things I am most proud of are my family; a happy marriage, three children, two sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, six grandkids, and several nieces and nephews." He was a deeply devoted husband, dad, and Grampy.

Preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Effie (Rhea) Orwig of Enid, OK; brothers and sisters, Marjorie (Orwig) Jewett of Conroe, TX; Lavona (Orwig) Schwan of Wilmette, IL; Herb Orwig of Houston, TX; Richard Orwig of Dallas, TX; and Anne (Orwig) McBride of Farmington, NM.

He is survived by the treasured love of his life, Sara (Henson) Orwig, who he was married to for 64 wonderful years. Proud father of Susan (Orwig) Slater (Jim) of Highland Village, TX; Joe Orwig (Kristine) of OKC, OK; and Anne (Orwig) Richardson (Brian) of Edmond, OK. “Grampy” to Hannah, Ellen, Rachel, Elisabeth, Colin, and Cameron and uncle to numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

As a tribute to David, please consider an act of kindness for your family and/or community to ease their burdens.

Because the Coronavirus pandemic has altered life for all, a private family graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Oklahoma City.

We know he has already joined his loved ones in heaven. We look forward to a Celebration of Life ceremony to be held at a later date when family and friends can embrace and celebrate the very well-lived life of David. In the meantime, David would want us to focus on the words from one of his favorite songs by Louis Armstrong, “And I think to myself what a wonderful world.” In lieu of flowers for the family, please consider a donation to the American Lung Association in memory of David Orwig.