Orrie G. Hiett Jr.

1931 - 2021

By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer

Orrie G. Hiett, Jr., who through church and community service made Toledo home after careers as a Naval aviator, a corporate pilot, and manager for defense contractors, died Thursday at Kingston of Sylvania. He was 90.

He had developed complications of a brain tumor discovered about two years ago, his wife, Paula Hiett, said.

Mr. Hiett, of the Old Orchard neighborhood in West Toledo, retired about six years ago after a decade at Owens Community College in Perrysburg Township. He taught meteorology, algebra, and physics. Though a part-time instructor, he took his duties seriously.

"He was absolutely very detailed," his wife said.

Before starting at Owens, he'd retired from Raytheon Co. near Dayton and moved full time to Toledo, where his wife in November, 1988, became chief executive of the board of realtors. He worked for a time at the publications Commercial Advantage and Sylvania Advantage.

He and his wife were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church downtown.

"He was so gregarious and served on the council at St. Paul's and became vice president of council," said his wife, a former council president.

He helped on the building committee and attended regularly other church functions.

"Orrie was such a caring person," his wife said. "When we joined St. Paul's we both felt so welcome and so at home, we both thought we needed to be involved there."

Pastor Peter Bowmer said: "He was a true gentleman.

"He was humble and kind-hearted and was supportive of me," said Pastor Bowmer, who arrived at St. Paul's in February, 2014. "He was just one of these guys who liked helping people out and never sought distinction for himself."

Jim Lauber's late wife, Karen, and Mrs. Hiett knew each other through real estate and the Toledo Board of Realtors, of which Mrs. Lauber was a former president. Mr. Hiett and Mr. Lauber, a Navy veteran, "hit it off from the start," Mr. Lauber said. "He always wanted to be doing something, mostly for the benefit of others. He not only served his country, he continued to do that his entire life."

Mr. Hiett, a longtime golfer, served as a walking scorer at the annual Jamie Farr LPGA Classic.

He was born Sept. 3, 1931, in Buffalo to Gretchen and Orrie Hiett and grew up in Baltimore. He was a graduate of Baltimore Polytech Institute. He'd begun attending a teachers college when he learned he likely would be drafted into the Army. Instead, he enlisted in the Navy. He was an electronics technician and, when offered the chance, successfully applied to the U.S. Naval Academy.

After flight school, he became an aviator and flew off the aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid.

Afterward, he became a test pilot and instructor for General Dynamics in Forth Worth. He later was a corporate pilot for the firm. Regular passengers included Vice President Hubert Humphrey and his wife, Muriel, and comedian and actor Bob Hope.

He became marketing and then office manager for the firm at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton. Among his duties was to serve as a liaison between the company and the government in the sale of F-16 fighter jets, his wife said. He formerly served on the National Aviation Hall of Fame board.

Surviving are his wife, Paula Hiett, whom he married June 16, 1990; sons Michael, Andy, and Todd Hiett; daughter, Torri Hiett; stepdaughters Sharla Marks and Celeste Meader; sister, Sylvia Thomas; six grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters.

Services for family will be held next year at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium in Annapolis. Arrangements are by the Foth-Dorfmeyer Mortuary.

The family suggests tributes to St. Paul's Lutheran Church or to the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.