I first met Orv in 1978. It was just before lunch, on the second floor, in a large bay, in a very large building. I sat at a desk in a row right in front of Pat Laney. I suddenly heard Pat saying to me to turn around to meet her husband Orv. She spoke of him often. I had a picture in my mind of what he looked like, to my astonishment he was not at all like what I imagined. There he was a handsome man wearing a green polyester jacket with a print of some sort on it, and solid brown polyester pants. This was the fashion of the day. He also wore a smile from ear to ear. There was something different about him. It didn’t take long to know just what that was.
I started to join them at the Annex Tavern, aka, the South Conference Room. This was a place where many Boeing employees, after a hard day at the office, would meet for the final daily conference to unwind. And unwind we did! We had a beer to celebrate a birthday; a beer to celebrate a Seahawk or Mariner victory; a beer to celebrate the folks at the bar; a beer to celebrate the rain. And in Seattle, the streets were shiny most of the time.
Orv, Pat and I sat at their kitchen tables (different homes) many nights until early morning discussing life. God, family, Olympia beer, Boeing, friends, Rainier beer, sports, politics, Rainier beer, and any other subject that came to mind. Orv usually went to bed before the evening was done, and Pat and I would play her signature game Pinochle.
When Pat was struck ill, Orv took on the role of caregiver. He did everything around the house. I remember Pat sharing a story of the first time she asked him to clean the bathroom, which included the dreaded toilet. He was in there a very long time. Finally she thought he may have fallen in and called him. He came out holding a scrub brush in his plastic glove clad hands, sleeves rolled up. He said something about it being woman’s work or something like that. Pat expressed that women don’t take so long to accomplish the task, what took so long? He explained he ran into trouble cleaning the inside of the water closet. When Orv took on a task he put his heart into it, and did it thoroughly! We all laughed about it!
I remember one Thanksgiving when the power went out; we finally were able to order pizza to have for dinner. We all had the best time talking, eating and enjoying the family under candle light while the storm was raging outside.
He is a good friend, and I regret we didn’t keep the contact as before in the past couple of years. We spoke on the phone a few times and I was happy he met and married Fizz. She helped make him happy again. I wish I could have met her.
I extend my deepest sympathy to the family for Orval’s passing. He was a great Believer and I know as one too, he now is with his God. That brings me comfort as I hope it does to his family and friends. Orv holds a special place in my heart as he and Pat were a big part of my life for over two decades, and very dear friends. I miss them greatly.
