Howard Davis Orebaugh Sr.

Howard Davis Orebaugh, Sr., 83, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend passed away peacefully at Windsor Point in Fuquay Varina, NC, on March 16th with his family by his side.
He was born on October 11, 1939, to Walter William and Marguerite Howard Orebaugh in Trieste, Italy, while his father was serving there in the U.S. Foreign Service. His father's career took the family from Trieste to Florence, Italy; Oslo, Norway; Silver Spring, MD and finally to Laredo, Texas, where Howard graduated from Martin High School. He then attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, graduating in 1961. That same year he married his college sweetheart Suzanne Duke, and they moved to Alexandria, VA. Howard took a job at Washington Permanent Savings and Loan in Washington, D.C. and eventually served as their President. During his time at the bank, he and his family moved to Rockville, Maryland, where they lived for over 40 years. In 1982 after 21 years at Washington Permanent, he became President and CEO of United Savings Bank of Virginia where he remained until 1989 when he decided to join a friend as a partner in H.M. Lawrence Corporation, a real estate land brokerage firm. Although their business was mostly in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, Howard did travel often to NC to work on projects there. It was the business in NC that brought about his move to Cary, NC, in 2005. After seven more years with H.M. Lawrence, Howard formed his own company in 2012. He continued to be very active in the business until his health began to fail in 2017.
Howard was an active member of Aspen Hill Christian Church in MD where he served as a deacon, an elder, Financial Secretary and Chairman of the Board. After his move to Cary, he joined Hillyer Christian Church in Raleigh. He also served for 15 years on the Board of Directors of the denomination's camp and conference center Christmount in Black Mountain, NC, serving as Moderator of the Board his last year.
His various activities and accomplishments included President of Georgetown Kiwanis Club in Washington, D.C., President of the Metropolitan Washington Chapter 51 of the Institute of Financial Education, Member of the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County, MD, Police Boys' Club and Member of the Board of Directors of the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Greater Washington, Inc. He was the President of the Financial Marketing Council of Greater Washington in 1978. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors and third Vice President of the Maryland Building Industry Association and was awarded "Associate Member of the Year" in 1988. He was the Honoree for the Annual National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine Winter Ball where he received the "Distinguished Community Service Award."
Howard was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Marguerite Orebaugh and by his sister, Edith Frances Adams.
Howard spent his favorite times camping and hiking with family and friends. He loved the outdoors and was probably the happiest at their cabin in the mountains of NC. But as much as he loved his leisure time, his greatest love was his family. They were his heart and joy. He leaves behind his devoted wife Suzy of 61 years, a son, H. Davis Orebaugh and his wife Tammy and two daughters, Kristin Long and her husband Scott and Gail Irvin and her husband Cory. He is also survived by seven grandchildren who brought so much fun and pride to his life: Walter and Samantha Orebaugh; Connor, Emily and Grant Long and Jake and Reid Irvin. Howard loved family celebrations and vacations and just spending time with his loved ones. Family traditions were very important to him, and he always hoped they would be carried on from generation to generation. To him, family should always stick together and love and support each other throughout their lives just as he had always done. He left a legacy of love for all of us to cherish.
Our family would like to thank the staff of the Windsor Point Health Center for the compassion, kindness, and care shown to Howard over the last few years.
A private interment will be held at Wake Memorial Park in Cary, NC, on Monday, March 20, 2023. A memorial service is planned for a later time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, 718 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27603, or to Aspen Hill Christian Church, 13501 Georgia Ave., Aspen Hill, MD 20906 or St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.