C. Robert Orner

1944 - 2021

C. Robert Orner of Montrose, age 77, died Oct. 20, 2021, at the Montrose Hospital. He has lived in Montrose since 1966.

Bob was born in Sunbury on 02/24/44. His parents were the late Mildred (Beattie) Orner and the late Charles R. Orner of Dallas. He was a 1962 graduate of Elmer L. Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre and was an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

Bob received his B.S. degree in music education in 1966 from Wilkes University and his M.A. in music in 1972 from Marywood University. Since 1966, he was the elementary music teacher at Elk Lake School and retired in 2004. While teaching at Elk Lake, he also was director of the pit band for 13 Broadway musicals in the fall seasons.

Bob worked six summers with the late Fred Waring at Delaware Water Gap. He was a performer with numerous music groups in the area, i.e., the Church Street Singers of Montrose, the Montrose Harmony Men, the Buddy Spencer Combo and Dance Band, the Blue Ridge Community Band, Vestal N.Y. Community Band, the Northern Tier Community Band, the Northern Tier Symphony, and the Musketries (House Band) of the German Club in Binghamton, N.Y. He played in and was co-host of the Montrose Blueberry Festival for many years. He had also appeared as a soloist in local churches, and was heard on WPEL radio in Montrose, and lately, had played in the pit bands in various high schools for their musical productions.

Robert was a member of the Montrose United Methodist Church, Elk Lake Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, the American Federation of Musicians, Locals #140 & 132, life member of the National Education Association - retired, and the Pennsylvania State Education Association - retired. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees and its Susquehanna County Chapter, and served as its president from 2010 to 2012.

Bob is survived by his wife, Norma; two sons, Dr. Brendan P., Singapore, and Benjamin R., New Milford; daughters-in-law, Karen Chiew and Robin Orner; and granddaughters, Paige Madison Orner and Lillian Joy Orner; cousins, Joseph Kowaleski, Dillsburg, Diane Gazder, Goa, India, and Jane Batzel, Halifax.

Memorial services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Susquehanna County Library (458 High School Road, Montrose, PA 18801), Montrose United Fire Company (Monument Square, Montrose, PA 18801) Montrose Minutemen Ambulance (23 Hollister Drive, Montrose, PA 18801), Endless Mountains Medical Care Foundation (270 Lake Ave., Montrose, PA 18801), or Susquehanna County Interfaith (526 Church St., Montrose, PA 18801).