Charles “Charlie” A. Orin

Friday, August 10, 2018

Charles “Charlie” A. Orin

May 25, 1932 - Aug. 9, 2018

PUEBLO, Colo. — Charles “Charlie” A. Orin, age 86, a resident of Pueblo, passed away Aug. 9, 2018, in Pueblo.

Charlie was born in Red Willow County near Culbertson, Neb., to Charles “Jack” and Eloise Moore Orin. He was one of three children. His older brother died shortly after birth, Charlie was the next child, and his sister, Mary, was the youngest. He graduated high school from St. Joseph’s Military Academy in 1950. He attended McCook College in McCook, Neb., and received an associate’s degree.

Charlie was the only son of a rancher and was exempt from military draft. However, in 1953, he choose to enlist in the United States Army. He proudly served, became a Sargent during the Korean Conflict, and was honorably discharged in 1955. He declined the opportunity to go to officer school and returned to the Nebraska ranch.

Charlie wed Joan Marie Smith of Palisade, Neb., on Sept. 15, 1956, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in McCook. They had four children during their marriage. They moved to the Greeley/Loveland, Colo., area for six years soon after marriage. Charlie owned and operated a filling station in Loveland, then bought a ranch in November 1962, at Grover, Colo., located in the Pawnee National Grasslands. Their house burned down in 1968, but they quickly built a new home in Grover.

They sold the Grover ranch in 1976 and moved to Sterling, Colo., where Charlie was employed by Federal Crop Insurance. There they built a home with the help of sons, Ed and Mike. Subsequently, Charlie was promoted, and they moved to Kansas City, Mo. Later, Charlie was promoted, and he and Joan moved to Bowie, Md. He rose to the position of assistant director of his division in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There, he was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his 20 years of excellent work for the Crop Insurance, Emergency and Noninsured, Assistance Program Division, in the Farm Service Agency.

In retirement, Charlie and Joan enjoyed 20 years of RV life, seeing the U.S. and Canada. During this time, he and other family members built a home for son, John and his wife, Linda in Forest City, N.C. They later built a house for themselves in Forest City by taking an old home down to the studs and rebuilding to make a lovely home. Charlie and his sons also were often up to their elbows in grease refurbishing Studebakers and Ramblers.

Charlie was an intelligent, independent, and capable man who held strong opinions and values. He was a natural born leader and not a man to follow others. He made his own path for himself and his family. “Life is what you make it,” he said. He was a strong adherent to his Catholic faith and values.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Joan of Pueblo; daughter, Patty of Grand Junction, Colo.; son, Mike of Pueblo; and son, John (Linda) of Mebane, N.C. Grandsons are Jess (Timmarie) of Sterling, Colo., Jay of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Michael (Alexandria) Neady of Charles Town, W.Va. Granddaughters are Yvette Orin-Martinez (Simone) of Lakewood, Colo., Angel (Spencer) Hart of Alamosa, Colo., Kaitlin Orin of Denver, Colo., Christina Tate of Graham, N.C., Sara Orin of Snow Camp, N.C., and Jenna Orin of Mebane, N.C.

Great-grandchildren are Trenton Hart, Tyler Hart, Hunter Romero, Brenden Orin, James Orin, Anthony Orin, Carter Orin, Sophia Martinez, Annaliese Orin, Adaline Orin, Michael Neady IV, Devin Neady, Jonathan Neady, Madeline Neady, Jackson Neady, Alyssa Tate, Ethan Tate, and Adaline Martinez-Orin.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Edward Jay Orin; and his sister, Mary Orin Holst Avery.

Rosary and visitation is Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, with  visitation from noon until after rosary at 6:30 p.m. with Father Gary Brethour. 

Mass of Christian  burial is at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, 10:30 a.m., with interment in the Calvary Cemetery.

Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.