Robert Orr

BRYSON CITY - Robert Alvin Orr, 97, passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. A life-long servant of the Lord, Robert will be remembered for his warm sweet way with people, the sparkle in his eyes and his ready smile.
Robert was raised in Bryson City, graduating from Swain County High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University, and both a master's degree and Ph. D from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
In his early adulthood, Robert served in the United States Army as a Corporal, taught public school history, French, and music and served churches as a minister of music, education and youth.
After seminary, Robert moved to Nashville to work in christian education publishing at the Baptist Sunday School Board, now Lifeway, where he worked until he retired.
Robert was a lifelong music lover, vocalist and instrumentalist, playing his clarinet well into his 90's and enjoyed singing, even in his last days.
Robert is preceded in death by his brother, John Lewis Orr, Jr.; mother, Nancy Orr; and father, John Lewis Orr.
He is survived by his wife, of 57 years, Helen Freeman Orr, daughter, Stephanie (Jeff) Pope; son, John Robert (Darla) Orr; and grandchildren, Ashley and Ryan Pope and Bryson and Robert Orr.