Hubert “Hugh” Orr passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at the age of 101 after a short stay at Delmar Gardens – Overland Park.
Hugh was born on October 24, 1918, in California, MO. He was the son of Henry Orr and Virgie Orr. He grew up in Sedalia, MO, where he graduated from Smith Cotton High School.
After graduating, he held a variety of jobs including a stint as a policeman in Sedalia before joining the United States Army Air Corps where he served from 1943 to 1946. Prior to joining the military, he met Wilmetta Griffitts "Billie" on a blind date and they were married in September 1940. They were married 72 years before her passing in 2012 at the age of 98. They gave birth to their only child, a son, Robert, in 1945.
After being honorably discharged, he and his family moved to Kansas City, MO, where he began working for General Motors. He retired from GM after 30 years of service in 1976. In 1951, Hugh moved to Overland Park, where he remained until his passing. Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to the Lake of the Ozarks, MO, for a few years before returning to Overland Park. While he enjoyed retirement, he felt he needed to be more active, so he took another job working at the halfway house at Milburn Country Club in Overland Park, where he worked for another 24 years. In his younger days, he enjoyed riding motorcycles and was an avid fan of cars.
Hugh was a lifetime member of the American Legion and a member of American Legion Post 370 for 65 years, where he volunteered in many capacities. Post 370 American Legion Riders made him an honorary Rider in 2019 because of his love for motorcycles and presented him with a leather vest showing his military service patches and ribbons. He was also a member of the Overland Park Presbyterian Church.
Hugh was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Raymond and a sister Maxine. He is survived by his son Robert “Bob” Orr and daughter-in-law (Lynne) of Beecher, IL, and a granddaughter Ginger Malcolm, her husband Chris and two great-grandchildren Charlie and Molly of Elmhurst, IL, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Services, due to Covid-19 restrictions will be private. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Hugh’s name to:
American Legion Post 370 - Charity Fund
7500 W. 75th Street,
Overland Park KS 66204
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