Orlando E. Dunn, age 81, of Edison, died early Thursday morning, December 15, 2011, at Heartland of Marion.
Orlando was born in Dayton on March 17, 1930, the son of the late George and Cordia (Stidman) Dunn.
On January 8, 1955, Orlando married his best friend and love of his life, Artie E. Smith. Together they enjoyed over 56 years of marriage and lovingly raised two daughters, Deborah and Priscilla. He and Artie made one of their dreams come true by traveling to all 50 states, even taking a six week long road trip driving to Alaska. They also enjoyed their role as stand-ins for many movies including Crazy for a Kiss and the Michael Douglas movie Traffic. They also posed for different ads in magazines. Most evenings, they enjoyed each other’s company in the living room watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune together.
For 26 and a half years Orlando was employed as a machinist at H.P.M. in Mount Gilead, where he retired from in 1990. He was privileged to work with his daughter Priscilla there for 18 of those years.
He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 889 in Marion and was very active in the Morrow County Seniors on Center.
Above anything else, Orlando cherished his time spent with family. As a family they would go fishing and also hunting for squirrel, rabbit, and later on deer. He loved teaching his daughters about hunting and fishing. Many family trips were enjoyed roller skating and ice skating. They planted a large garden, which steadily grew smaller as the kids grew up and moved out.
Orlando will always be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a very hard worker and always provided for his family, even when times were tough. He was a happy go lucky man who always found a way to make the best of every situation.
Orlando will be dearly missed by his wife, Artie, of Edison; two daughters, Deborah Dunn of Clearwater, FL, Priscilla (Bryan) Bennett of Caledonia; three grandchildren: Sabrina (Jason) Rosenbloom of Hawaii, Damron Bradley and Rodney Bradley, both of Clearwater, FL; nine great grandchildren: Anthony, Desirae, Shianne, Angel, DJ, Vinny, and Joey Bradley, Nickolas Granger and Gabriel Rosenbloom; two half sisters: Eula (Logan) Hicks of Dayton, Kathy Henson of Lebanon, OH; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Orlando was preceded in death by his step-mother, Lillian Dunn; four brothers: Charles, William and Odie Dunn, Olivar Prader; a sister, Virgie Parker; and a half sister, Georgetta Dunn.
The Dunn family will greet friends from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 19, 2011, at the Snyder Funeral Home, 76 S. Main St., Mt. Gilead, where services celebrating his life will be held immediately following at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Don Lockwood officiating. Burial will follow in Rivercliff Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Central Ohio Chapter, 1379 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead is honored to have been chosen to serve Orlando’s family, and condolences may be expressed to them online by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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