Robert (Bob) Chester Orr, formerly of Hamlet, Indiana, passed away peacefully at his home in Lake Placid, Florida on Sunday, June 26, 2022. Born on February 8, 1933, to Chester and Lois (Bolen) Orr, Bob grew up on his father and mother’s farm in Hamlet with his brother, Allen. Bob graduated from Hamlet High School as a member of the class of ’51. He married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis (Berg) Orr, on June 10, 1953. They had three children – Garry Robert Orr, Gregg (Becky) Ryan Orr of Hamlet, Indiana, and Gayla (David) Rae Haag of Charlotte, North Carolina.
After the passing of his first wife, Phyllis, on September 17, 2000, Bob married Elaine (Steele) Orr of Hamlet, Indiana on February 19, 2005. From that relationship he leaves behind Elaine and her two daughters, Lynn Minix of Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Kristine Cooley of Niles, Michigan.
Bob lived a long and prosperous life. He was a lifetime farmer who started out working for his father and soon saved up enough money for the down payment on a farm of his own. Some of his favorite things to do were to challenge his friends to a game of billiards of which he rarely lost, playing golf and a good game of bid euchre with his friends at Covered Bridge Park where he and Elaine resided. In his younger years, he threw a skillful game of horseshoes while spending time with family and friends at he and Phyllis’ summer home about a mile behind their residence, lovingly referred to as The Cabin where they spent many a happy summer weekend with their children and grandchildren.
Right after his marriage to Phyllis, he was drafted into the Army and proudly served his country as a Military Policeman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Also, he was elected to the Oregon-Davis School Board where he was instrumental in helping to plan for the new Oregon-Davis High School. In 2018, Bob was inducted into the Oregon-Davis Hall of Fame for his contributions as the starting Center for the Hamlet High Tigers.
Those left here to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Elaine, two of his three children, Gregg and Gayla, his daughter-in-law Becky (Jensen) Orr, his son-in-law David Haag, Elaine’s two daughters Lynn and Kristine, eight grandchildren – Tamara Orr of South Bend, Indiana, April Orr of Lubbock, Texas, Gayle Orr, Gregg Orr, Jr., and James (Lauren) Orr, all of Hamlet, Indiana, Jessica Schlesser and Byron Haag, both of Charlotte, North Carolina and Elaine’s grandson, Josh Ross. Bob also leaves behind several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many cherished friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Lois, his brother, Allen, his first wife, Phyllis Orr and his eldest son, Garry Orr. Arrangements for a private graveside service are currently pending.
