Submitted by: Dan Rich

Robert L. Orth

Sept. 1, 1913 - Aug. 2, 2005

South Bend Tribune 8/5/2005

Robert L. Orth, 91, of Windingbrook Drive, Mishawaka, passed away at 8:37 p.m. Tuesday, August 2, in his residence. He was born on September 1, 1913, in Lafayette, Indiana, to the late Marybelle (Miller) and Robert C. Orth. On June 5, 1937, in Mishawaka, Indiana, he married Helen Jordan, who preceded him in death on June 5, 2001. On August 13, 2001, he married Catherine T. Romano, who survives. Mr. Orth is also survived by two stepdaughters, Amy Brown of Luther, Oklahoma, and Angy Shearer of South Bend, Indiana; a stepson, Earl Orth of Mishawaka; and three step-grandchildren.

Mr. Orth was a retired executive for Wheelabrator Corporation, working in the sales and engineering departments, and had received many awards through work. He was a graduate of Purdue University where he played saxophone, clarinet and flute in the band. He also had played in the Andy Reidle's and Orval Ray bands. He loved jazz and was especially fond of the Benny Goodman and Glen Miller bands. He was an avid golfer, scoring two holes-in-one and was a member of the Morris Park Country Club, South Bend. He loved hunting, fishing, football games and roses. He had traveled the world three times and had kissed the Blarney Stone and skied in Switzerland. He had taken many trips back to Purdue and in 2003 he went back to visit his alma mater, went to a football game, visited the old schools he attended in his youth, and visited the farm where he grew up. He cherished Purdue, Myrtle Beach, his family and friends. Mr. Orth was a member of the American Foundrymen's Society, Purdue Alumni Association, Royal Oak, Michigan, Masonic Lodge F&AM, The Scottish Rite Valley of South Bend, and was a Loyal Sig of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Services for Mr. Orth will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 6, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home where a Masonic service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. Graveside services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Springvale Cemetery, Lafayette, Indiana. The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to Reins of Life, c/o Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, 205 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601.