William Harvey Orr Jr.

October 14, 1923 - October 6, 2018

William H. Orr, Jr., DeLand passed away peacefully October 6, 2018, eight days shy of his 95th birthday. He was born in Danville, Virginia and grew up in DeLand. After graduating from high school in June of 1941 he joined the Marine Corps and served the entire World War II in the Pacific. After the war, he returned to DeLand, enrolling at Stetson and playing football. Soon thereafter he met and fell in love with an attractive blonde named Mary Elizabeth Swanson and June 3, 1947 they were married at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Pierson. After graduation from Stetson, Bill was called back to active duty in 1950. He served as a drill instructor at Camp Lejeune for two years during the Korean War and then served as a casualty officer during Vietnam. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserves until 1978, retiring with the rank of Sergeant Major. In 1952 Bill was hired as a biology teacher and football coach at Winter Park High School. He served as head football coach from 1957-1965 and athletic director from 1957-1969. He continued to coach J.V. football until his retirement in 1985. He also coached J.V. basketball, golf, tennis and swimming. He started the first high school weightlifting team in Central Florida, initially making his own weights with concrete in buckets. He was a member of the WPHS Sports Hall of Fame and was a life member of the Florida Athletics Coaches Association. Coach Orr was an imposing figure. One of the players on his first team, Bob Richmond said, "When Coach Orr came to Winter Park, he looked like he was chiseled out of stone." He continued to maintain a rigorous workout regimen well into his 90's. He was a tough, sometimes gruff Marine with a dry wit and all the qualities necessary to equip him as a master of "Creative Disciplinary Methods." But he was beloved by the thousands of young people and faculty members who knew him as a man of integrity and honor, and eventually learned he was actually a teddy bear at heart... He was a molder of men. Bill died three weeks after his bride, Mary Elizabeth Swanson Orr. They were inseparable sweethearts for 71 years. He was also predeceased by his brother, Thomas Watson Orr and his son William H. "Billy" Orr, III. Bill is survived by his daughter and caregiver, Debra Sue Williamson (Chris), Winter Park, eight grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren, whom will all miss him dearly. Visitation will be at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, October 13, 2018 at First Baptist Winter Park with a celebration of his life to follow at 10:00 a.m. Allen-Summerhill, DeLand is in charge.