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Charles L. Orr

1933 - 2020

BORN

1933

DIED

2020

About

Brigham Young University

Charles Orr Obituary

August 14, 1933 - March 23, 2020 Rev. Charles Orr, a religious and community leader who was a Senior Pastor of Westwood Presbyterian Church for nearly forty years, passed away March 23, 2020. His wife Claire West Orr, his daughter Nancy Ryals and close family friend Dr. Bruce McLucas were at his bedside. Becoming pastor of the then-struggling Westside church in 1970, Charles Orr led the congregation into an outward-looking mission serving the broader community. Through his efforts and the "nudging" of his wife, the church founded PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) in 1983. PATH has interim and permanent supportive housing and outreach for thousands of individuals and families from San Diego to San Jose. The Church, under Charles' leadership also helped found the Westside Food Bank and FosterAll (formerly Child Share), which has recruited and supported families from faith communities to foster and adopt over 3,500 abused and neglected children. In addition to community activism, Rev. Orr was a spiritual leader to both his own congregation and a much wider audience. In the 1970 and '80s, he broadcast sermons on several Los Angeles radio stations. His thoughtful, intellectual and open minded messages greatly contrasted with televangelist of that era. Upon his retirement from WPC in 2009, Charles served as guest preacher at All Saints Beverly Hills and Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church. Charles Orr was born in Elwood City, PA, to Mabel and Charles L. Orr, Sr. Due to his father's work, his family moved to Utah when Charles was a teenager. He graduated from Brigham Young University, where he felt the call to the Protestant ministry. He went on to receive his Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary and completed further study at Harvard Divinity School. Before coming to Westwood, he was Pastor of San Geronimo Presbyterian Church in Marin County and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Santa Cruz. Charles and Claire have 4 living children, 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He is best remembered by generations of parishioners and others who looked to him for spiritual guidance and comfort; he performed baptisms, weddings and funerals for multiple generations of the same family. He brought his scripturally-based sermons into contemporary life with quotes from newspapers, literary giants, scenes from movies, plays, beloved poems and favorite songs. Rev. Orr changed lives. Many of his sermons are in his recently published book, "God Knows." In announcing his passing, Westwood Presbyterian Church recognized his long leadership by saying "Charles' profound sermons, delightful sense of humor, generous spirit, and passionate commitment to mission leave an enormous legacy. Because of his humility we doubt he ever appreciated the extraordinary impact that he had." All Saints Church added its own testimony, "Charles used his considerable imagination and intellect to give us a greater sense of our own humanity and the depth of God's love for us." The celebration of Charles' life is delayed until we all can gather. In lieu of flowers, please donate to PATH or FosterAll.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Los Angeles Times from Apr. 3 to Apr. 5, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Charles Orr

11 Entries

The Rev. Portia Iverson

January 12, 2025

A minister meets many worshippers in their lifetime. I was not a member of WPC; however, The Rev. Charlie Orr was a major influence in my life and ministry. From 1978-1995 I lived in NYC and attended Madison Ave. Pres. Church there. During a period in the late 1980s, a retired minister from WPC served as the Interim of Madison Ave. It was a period when I was back and forth at times between NYC and LA as an actress. At the suggestion of the former WPC minister serving at our NYC church, I sent Rev. Orr one of those picture postcards actors use, letting him know I was going to be in LA and was looking for a "house sit." The rest, as they say, is history. On the first Sunday I was in LA I went to his church: as he greeted worshippers, he knew my name and welcomed me personally! From the time I heard his first sermon, with its spiritual depth, literary and creative luminosity, I was hooked! Within a short period of time I frequently visited with him after worship about my own growing call to ministry. He always listened and graciously responded to me as if there were no one else in the congregation who had any need for his time. I ultimately went to seminary in NYC, graduating in 1995. For a number of years WPC graciously mailed me copies of his sermons and all congregations I have served have often been blessed with quotes from "The Rev. Charles Orr of WPC." As long as I have life, I will always be grateful for and celebrate his grace-filled ministry to me. Sincerely, The Rev. Portia Iverson

Reggie, caregiver

May 21, 2024

RIP Sir. Charles Orr. Have an eternal life with God The Father and His Kingdom In Heaven. Amen , from God to you to Mrs. Orr and your whole family, many thanks for touching my life and giving me a shelter from PATH. Gob Bless Us All. Amen

Nyle Kardatzke

April 28, 2024

He was an insightful pastor at WPC in the early 1970s.

John Shaw

March 14, 2023

Dr. Charles Orr was a highly intelligent, caring, generous, kind, loving man. I was a member of the Westwood Presbyterian Church in the 1990s and 2000s. His sermons were powerful and memorable to me because he always linked the message of scripture to current events and to literature. The message perhaps felt more relevant because of his artful delivery. May god bless Charles.

Katherine Galligan

July 28, 2020

What a thoughtful, thought-provoking man and what a pleasure it was to know him and Claire, while a member of Westwood Presbyterian and in a nonsecular context too - we shared many interests, especially in the arts. I treasured our conversations about faith and other things, and of course now I wish there had been more of them.

A life well-lived, undoubtedly. My best to Claire and their family.

David Leung

April 28, 2020

More than a pastor at WPC during my year at UCLA, 1972. Charles provided inspirations during times in need. I will miss him.

Bud Wilson

April 22, 2020

My thoughts and family memories are with me everyday of how much I always loved and respected you UNCLE CHIC. GOD bless you.

April 18, 2020

My husband and I were at seminary with Charles. Our deepest sympathy for the loss to the family and the community. He served his Lord well. Bob and Genece Warren

Uncle Chic we love you

Bud Wilson

April 14, 2020

Uncle chic was my Dear uncle. My most fond memories was of the many times he took me to the movies was such good times. The times of family gatherings was great and he was always the star of the day growing up in his teachings will always be remembered. My family was very few but spending all my life under his wings was a fulfillment. He performed many wonderful moments and when he married Marlene and I 39 years ago we both
Knew God blessed us through him. We love you always Uncle Chic. Give a big hug to Mom Grandpa and Grandma and Melissa. I miss you all. I 'll always thank God for you. Bud & Marlene.

In Honor of Charles Orr

Bruce Khouri

April 8, 2020

I came to follow Reverend Orr's spiritual leadership by serendipity. In June of 2000, the wife of one of my closest friends, Gordon Copp, passed away. Gordon wasn't much of a practicing Christian, but he loved Charles Orr and insisted that I contact him because Charles wedded Gordon and Joy so many years ago. And so I did.

Charles eulogized and helped Gordon and I bury his beloved wife. And then Charles again eulogized and help me bury my dear friend Gordon, one year later.

As I write these words, it is hard to maintain my composure. The tears well up with the recognition of just how deeply I came to love Charles Orr... but could never find a way to say so.

Charles led me back to my faith. He was a towering intellect and spiritual leader in our community, the likes of which I'm afraid I'll never see again. I know the profound sadness I feel now will soften with time. I also know that true faith endures and for that I owe Charles a ton of gratitude... which I will surely express when we meet again!

As a tribute to his mission on earth, I have reprinted here (and attach a photocopy) of my remarks to Westwood Presbyterian Church which Charles asked me to deliver on the occasion of its 60th Anniversary:

Good Morning!

On the occasion of my son's bible presentation and WPC's upcoming 60th birthday, Charles asked me to comment upon my views of faith, community and good works.

The question he posed to me was how I see the church, as a community, and me, as an individual, expressing our faith. On the surface, this question seems simple enough. We all have accepted Christ as our Savior and Redeemer and have pledged our lives to follow His example. I'd be happy to leave it at that and go back to the corner of my favorite pew but I'm afraid Charles won't let me off that easy.

Since I became self aware, I considered myself a member of the greater Christian community and my personal relationship to God always defined my place in any particular Church. Baptized in the Orthodox Church and raised in Roman Catholic schools, I have come to WPC by pure happenstance. My desire to be part of this community and raise our children here does not come from a commitment to any particular religious doctrine but rather from the recognition of the love and good works this community projects from the epicenter of Reverend Orr's 30-year mission. In other words, I am here by Providence and Reason.

I do not mean to suggest a sense of conceited exclusivity. I recognize that history has frequently blessed us with great spiritual leaders and faithful communities. But I also know that the world continues to be overwhelmed by the needs of the Many that are only partially comforted by the deeds of the Few. When one considers this fact and faces the reality of one's own mortality, it is hard not to be overcome by the fear that our lives may make no measurable difference before we depart this earth.

This is a terrifying existential thought that most people would prefer to never entertain. Indeed, sadly, some people never do. That is why we reach for the Church. For me, Saint Paul's admonition to the Corinthians that their lives are meaningless without Faith, Hope and Charity, with the greatest among these being Charity (or Love) says it all; they are my Cliff Notes to life.

So when I refer to my Cliff Notes, it is easy to measure my place in God's creation when choosing to be a part of any particular community. And while I have tremendous respect for the greater Christian family, in this context, my admiration for what this church has achieved over the past 60 years, and continues to achieve on a daily basis, is both profound and personal. I need not labor through the long list of our accomplishments in aiding the homeless, the orphaned, the sick and the hungry. I need not point out to you the uplifting nature of our simple sanctuary, nor remind you of the quality of our songs of praise under JK's inspired baton or of the depth and enduring relevance of Charles's sermons. These are the obvious things.

What's not so obvious is the power of what this little Church gives back relative to its size. Raised in a tough part of Boston by a father who was a Navy welter-weight boxer during WWII, I learned the hard way to have a keen respect for those who punched above their weight class. I chose to support and become a part of this Church because, pound for pound, we punch way above our weight.

So when I come back to the core question how does the Church express our faith, my answer is this: As long as our body is greater than the sum of our parts, we express and honor our faith; we are, in effect, making wine from water.

Thank you.October 14, 2007

Ed Elbert

April 5, 2020

Although everything passes in time, I am so saddened to learn of this. When my parents, Edwin and Muriel Elbert finally uprooted themselves from a life spanning three generations in New Rochelle, New York and moved here in the 80s, the Westwood Presbyterian Church was a key part of what made the transition manageable. . They were embraced by the congregation and Reverend and Claire Orr in a way that I will always be grateful for My mother became deeply involved in PATH, and as happy for its presence in her life as I hope they were for her help. When my father finally passed at the age of 85 in 1989, I don't know that my mother would have chosen to continue had it not been for that extended community. Though I have not been part of that congregation myself, I have been blessed by what it meant to my parents and therefore to me. I will always be in Reverend and Claire Orr's debt for that generosity and support. There can never be enough like him.

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