Robert William Orr

1930 - 2012

Robert William Orr passed away peacefully on December 21, 2012 in Palm Desert, Calif., surrounded by his entire family. Bob was born in upstate New York in South Kortright on August 8, 1930, and was raised in Walton, N.Y. in the Catskill Mountains. He graduated from Walton High School in 1948. After graduation, Bob entered the Air Force and was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nev. After serving in the Air Force he moved to Manhattan Beach, Calif., where he met his wife Joan. Bob and Joan were married at American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach on April 14, 1956. Bob then attended Loyola University in Los Angeles, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and was a member of Delta Sigma Pi fraternity. Bob was a successful commercial developer, real estate broker and general contractor. He began his career in Orange County where he founded Industrial West, Inc., a full service brokerage company. He moved the company to the Coachella Valley in 1980. In 1988 he sold Industrial West and continued his profession as Orr Company. In the desert, he was instrumental in the development of numerous projects, including the Palm Desert Business Center, Country Club Business Park, Washington Business Park, North Palm Springs Business Center, Valley Metroplex Business Park, University Commerce Center and Shadow Hills Business Park. He even had a street dedicated to him by the name of "Orr Way". Bob is survived by Joan, his wife of more than 56 years, three sons, Stuart Orr (Pam) of Nokomis, Fla.; Brian Orr (Julie) of Palm Desert; David Orr (Cindy) of Chula Vista, Calif.; one daughter, Karin Orr Straumietis of Indio; and five grandchildren: Austin, Taylor, Stuart, Cassidy and JonMichael. He is also survived by three sisters, Betty Hitchcock of Santa Rosa, Calif.; Doris Tyrrell of Quaker Town, Pa.; Ann Werry of Palo Alto, Calif., and a brother, Leonard Orr, along with numerous relatives and lifelong friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Eva Orr and his sister, Margaret Orr. Bob's interests included boating, skiing, reading, golf and the theater. He loved spending time with his "Scarlett" and his beloved grandchildren. Bob had a kind heart and deep love and dedication to his family. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Men's Club and the Palm Springs Chapter of Legatus. Father Howard Lincoln will conduct a memorial mass on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 9:00 am at Sacred Heart Church, 43-775 Deep Canyon, Palm Desert, Calif. 92260. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 69-730 Highway 111, Suite 202, Rancho Mirage, Calif. 92270 or or to Sacred Heart Church, Palm Desert, CA 92260.