Robert Thomas Ordner Sr.

A once-ever lifetime achievement award presented by the Atlanta Academy of Institutional Pharmacy to Robert (Bob) T. Ordner was uniquely appropriate. Bob had begun his drug store experience at age 12 where he worked as a soda-jerk at a Galveston Beach drug store to help his family, hard it by the Depression days. He planned then to be a doctor but found his true calling when he was assigned to an Army Pharmacy in Junction City, KS. He had graduated from the University of Texas School of Pharmacy in 1954, sometimes working three jobs to pay his way. It was there he met a journalism student, Helen Cox, with whom he was to share a marriage of 60 years. Together they enjoyed square dancing and travels with their family. Bob held his pharmacy license for 50 years, serving as Chief Pharmacist for 28 years at Southern Regional Medical Center. He is credited with instituting many innovative policies for patient safety that are still in place today. On the adjunct staff of Mercer and Georgia State Universities he shared his strict standards and goal of lowering the cost of healthcare with many of the oncoming generations. Bob was recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and was named Pharmacist of the year by the Georgia Society of Health-System Pharmacists, among other honors. He died peacefully at his home on May 20, 2015. He is survived by his wife, Helen Ordner; a sister Nollie Jalufka; a son Robert Ordner Jr. and his wife Kelly Lougee-Ordner; a daughter Sheila Dodson; four grandchildren: Jane Dodson, Rebecca Otten and husband Brandon, Brent Dodson and wife Nam Tan, and Brooke Blyzes; and five great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends 7:00 – 8:00 PM Monday, May 25, 2015 at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home in Kennesaw. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday at St. Teresa’s Episcopal Church in Acworth with the Rev. Terri Brice officiating. Interment will be held at 1:30 PM Wednesday at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.