James D. Orr

James D. Orr, 87, of Bryan, passed away Saturday morning October 27, 2012 at the St. Joseph Manor in Bryan. Visitation is scheduled for Monday October 29, 2012 from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. A Graveside Service will be held at 2 P.M. Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at the New Church Cemetery in the Edge Community with Reverend Rick Sitton officiating.

Jimmy was born on October 4, 1925, in the Edge Community in North Brazos County, the fourth son of, Bessie Lee Wallace and James Ollie Orr. Jimmy attended Grammar School at Edge and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Bryan, Texas in January 1944 and joined the United States Army in April 1944 during World War II.

Jimmy was sent to Camp Robinson, Arkansas on April 1944 for fifteen weeks of basic training. After that, he was sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi to join the 69th Infantry Division, which was shortly shipped out to join the European Theater of Operations. After spending six weeks in England with the 272nd Infantry Regiment of the 69th Division, they were transported across the English Channel to Le Havre, France. The 69th Division moved rapidly across France into Combat Territory in Belgium. Jimmy remained with the 272nd (the Battle Axe Regiment of the Fighting 69th Division), moving into Germany and into the Battle of the Bulge. The 69th Division was the first to make contact with the Russian Army at the Elbe River in Germany on April 24, 1945.

After the war was over, Jimmy was transferred to an Ordinance Group Headquarters until he was sent home to the United States. Jimmy received two Campaign Stars and the Campaign Infantry Badge plus other Campaign Ribbons and on June 1946, Jimmy received his discharge with the rank of Technical Sergeant.

After the war, Jimmy returned back to Bryan to work for his brother and sister-in-law Waldon and Adele Orr, in the grocery business. In January of 1950, Jimmy was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He served in the 2nd Machine Records Unit at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas for one year. He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant before being discharged. After his second tour of military duty, Jimmy returned home and worked at Orr’s Super Markets until the stores were sold in 1972. In 1975 Jimmy went to work at Texas A&M in the Foods Warehouse Supply Unit until his retirement in 1989.

Jimmy loved to hunt and fish. He especially loved the outdoors, visiting and driving through the pastures of his family’s ranch three or more times a week, looking at the cattle.

Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents; three brothers and one sister-in-law, Wallace B. Orr, Waldon H. and Adele Orr, and Carl E. Orr.

He is survived by his sister-in-law Lena Orr of Bryan, and numerous friends.

It has been requested that Memorials be made to Southern Care Hospice, or to the Brazos Valley Food Bank