Adolphus Busch "Dolph" ORTHWEIN

ORTHWEIN, Adolphus Busch "Dolph"

Adolphus Busch Orthwein "Dolph", age 96 died peacefully at his home in Huntleigh Village, MO, on November 25, 2013. He was born in St. Louis, MO, on September 2, 1917, the son of Percy James Orthwein and Clara Busch Orthwein, the eldest grandson of August A. Busch, Sr. and a great-grandson of Adolphus Busch, the founder of Anheuser Busch. He grew up in St. Louis, spending much of his childhood at his grandfather's St. Louis estate known as Grants Farm and at the Busch family summer vacation home near Cooperstown, NY. Through his close relationship with his grandfather he developed a lifelong love and knowledge of animals. He was especially skilled in many equestrian sports including jumping, fox hunting and coaching. Later he became Master of the Bridlespur Hunt, an accomplished 3 goal polo player, and was inducted into the Missouri Horseman's Hall of Fame. At the age of 13, on New Year's Eve, 1930, he was kidnapped for ransom and released on the following day. In 1940, he graduated from Yale University with a B.A. degree in sociology. Upon graduation he spent six months in an officer training program with the U.S. Navy and then worked briefly for Shell Oil Company. In the spring of 1941, before the United States entered World War II, he was commissioned as an Intelligence Volunteer Special officer in the Navy. Throughout the war he served in Naval Intelligence primarily designing and implementing systems for tracking German submarines in the Caribbean. Ultimately he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After World War II he returned to St. Louis and remained in the Naval Reserves. He also began employment with Anheuser-Busch for fourteen years where he rose to the position of Vice President of Operations and served on the Company's Board of Directors. During his time with Anheuser-Busch he oversaw the design and construction of several new breweries in which he introduced and developed many state of the art cost saving efficiencies. Upon leaving Anheuser-Busch he led a number of smaller businesses, authored a few autobiographies and settled in Florida. However, he continued to spend his summer months at Red River Farm near Cooperstown and the spring and fall in St. Louis. He was a member of the St. Louis Country Club and the Log Cabin Club in St. Louis, MO, the Bath and Tennis Club in Palm Beach, FL, and the Cooperstown Country Club in Cooperstown, NY. He was also a former member of the Everglades Club and the Crocodiles in Palm Beach, FL, as well as many other clubs and organizations. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Nancy Morrison Orthwein, their son, Christopher DaCamara Orthwein (Binkie), of Palm Beach, FL and her son by a previous marriage Michael Montgomery (Mimi), of Palm Beach, FL, as well as by his first wife Ann Thornley Metcalfe, their four sons, Adolphus Busch Orthwein, Jr. (Judy), of Atlanta, GA, Stephen August Orthwein (Ginny), Peter Busch Orthwein (Beverly), of Greenwich, CT, David Thornley Orthwein, fourteen grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. His greatest interest in life was his family for whom he provided generously and with whom he enjoyed all of the activities that he most loved: polo, tennis, duck hunting and chess. He remained alert and sharp minded until the very end. Following a private burial, there will be a Memorial Service in "Celebration of His Life" at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 110 N. Warson Road, St Louis, MO on Saturday, November 30 at 3:00 PM followed by a reception for family and friends at the Log Cabin Club, 1140 Log Cabin Lane, St. Louis, MO 63124. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to the United States Polo Training Foundation, 70 Clinton Street, Tully, NY 13159; Ducks Unlimited, One Waterfowl Way Memphis, TN 38120-2351; Mercy Hospice, 1000 Des Peres Road, St. Louis, MO 63131; St Peter's Episcopal Church or the charity of your choice. A memorial service will take place in Palm Beach, FL at a later date.

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