Robert G. Orr, a longtime resident of Burke, VA, passed away at the age of 77 on July 12, 2024 after a courageous battle against cancer. He was the devoted husband and best friend of Mary (Roderick) for more than 53 years.
Born and raised in Ohio, Bob was the son of the late Clifton and Arlene (Blackmer) Orr. As one of 11 children, family was always the center of Bob’s life and he established special relationships with his many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
After graduating from Bluffton High School in 1966, Bob enlisted in the Air Force. While stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base in 1967, Bob fell in love with Mary and this began a love story and true partnership that would take them all over the world, making lasting memories, forming long-standing friendships, and providing love and hospitality to everyone they encountered.
Bob was a proud Vietnam War veteran and also served overseas in Thailand. After the war, Bob’s assignments took he and Mary to Missouri, Nebraska, Guam, Monterey, and eventually to the Pentagon where Bob concluded his military career assigned to the Joint Staff and achieved the rank of master sergeant. Upon Bob’s retirement from the Air Force after 22 years, Bob continued in public service for another 20 years at the Department of Defense, including many years serving in the White House Liaison Office. Bob will always be remembered fondly by his co-workers for his hard work and dedication.
After 42 years of military and public service, Bob finally had time to enjoy many of his passions that he had picked up during his career, including golfing, fishing, bowling, playing cards, NASCAR, and of course cheering for his beloved Dallas Cowboys! When the weather was nice, Bob loved to take out his 1978 Malibu for a ride. Bob and Mary also made many great memories camping with friends and family all across the country, and their love of travel took them to 49 states.
Bob’s lasting legacy will be was his selfless devotion to Mary and all of his extended family and “adopted” family members. Despite being geographically separated from both of their families, Bob and Mary made multiple trips a year to Ohio and New England for family events and especially loved attending any sporting event that a family member or friend was participating in. Bob was always there for anyone in need and treated everyone he encountered with love and kindness. Bob also had a deep faith that enriched his life and was a longtime parishioner of Nativity Church.
In addition to Mary, Bob is also survived by his siblings Clifton Orr Jr. and his wife Marcella of OH; John Orr of NH; Dwight Orr and his wife Carol of WV; Dennis Orr and his wife June of OH; sister-in-law Martha Orr of OH; and sister-in-law Loretta Blanché and her husband Raúl of NH. Bob was predeceased by his siblings Gerald Orr; David Orr and his wife Judy; Patsy Ann Gauthier and her husband James; Mary Sherrill and her husband Olan; Terri Orr; Erma Stinnett; sister-in-law Diane Orr; and brother-in-law Gerald Roderick and his wife Corinne.
Bob also leaves behind seven Godchildren that he was particularly devoted to: Justin, Raúl, Erika, Gabrielle, Johanna, Eliana, and Jaxson.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Nativity Church in Burke, VA on Saturday, August 10 at 2:00 p.m. Family and friends are welcome to visit at Nativity at 1:30 p.m. prior to Mass. Additional celebrations of life will be scheduled in OH and MA. Interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund https://www.vvmf.org/ Healing Waters https://projecthealingwaters.org/ways-to-give/donate-now/ or Operation Starfish https://nativityburke.org/operation-starfish/
