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BORN
1943
DIED
2023
FUNERAL HOME
1125 Harvey Point Road
Hertford, North Carolina
Leo Orenstein Obituary
Richard was born in Southport, NC on August 1, 1943. He moved often to follow his father's Navy and Coast Guard assignments, but periodically returned to Southport for schooling and graduated at age 16 from Southport High School as Salutatorian in May 1960.
Leo enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1961 and served one tour in Laos and two tours in Vietnam. Ten of his 29 plus year career in the Army was spent overseas. Leo served in command and staff positions in Special Forces, Training Command, Mechanized Infantry, Fixed and Rotary Wing Aviation, Defense Nuclear Agency, Headquarters Dept. of the Army, Defense Intelligence Agency, and U.S. Embassy Jakarta as Attaché. Following retirement from the military, he founded and ran an international trading and consulting company in Manassas, VA for 17 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Deanna Sink Orenstein, his mother, Gilda Arnold Rogers of Southport, and his grandparents, Clifton and "Miss Annie" Arnold, also of Southport.
Surviving is his wife, Beth Clayton Sessoms; his sister, Gina Rogers Jones (John); brother, Heywood "Woody" Orenstein (Lorraine); daughter, Scarlett Orenstein Grose (Matthew); grandson Carter Grose, and granddaughter, Sydney Grose. Also surviving are Beth's children, Douglas Miller (Katie), Andrew Miller (Lauren) and Dr. Emily Ray (William); and six granddaughters, Katelyn Miller, Elizabeth Miller, Caroline Miller, Emily Miller, Annie Laurie Ray, and Margaret Ray.
A gathering and time of visitation will be held Saturday, July 29, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford.
A graveside service with full military honors will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery followed by a celebration of his life.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Gary Sinise Foundation, www.garysinisefoundation.org or to the United States War Dogs Association, www.uswardogs.org.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Leo Orenstein
Sponsored by Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Homes & Crematory - Hertford.
1 Entry
Carl Wayne Yarber
January 8, 2024
Farewell my friend, Leo. For our peace & understanding there are 4,000 yrs. of carefully recorded human history. Proving this law of life: As long as a man walks this parade ground of life he will never know the full meaning of his journey. Leo's fate was to live, volunteer, and understand this world by being there in hard times, yes, during the unfolding of epic crises. It was his accumulation of hard earned experience that allowed Leo to see this world as it is but also to know the deep joys of this life, a much deeper life that is laced with hope and love. The true number of people that Leo touched their lives is simply beyond measure. Always Leo's Friend, Carl
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Memorial Events
for Leo Orenstein
Jul
29
Visitation
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Homes & Crematory - Hertford1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, NC 27944
Funeral services provided by:
Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Homes & Crematory - Hertford1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, NC 27944
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