Joseph Anderson Orr

He was born on January 3, 1947, in Newburgh, N.Y., to Francis Anderson Orr and Joseph Orr. He graduated from Cornwall High School, and shortly joined the Coast Guard, serving four years during the Vietnam War—where his love of the sea began.

He followed his parents to South Carolina and later earned an associate degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Midlands Technical College. In 1992, he received a B.S. degree from the University of Maryland. Joe retired from South Carolina Electric & Gas Company with over 35 years of service, having worked as a Health Physics Specialist and Supervisor at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station until 2009.

Throughout his life, Joe enjoyed the great outdoors—hunting, fishing, boating, and traveling across the US, Caribbean and Central America with his wife and children. He especially loved the peace and solitude of their eclectic Lowcountry family weekend fish camp at Bennetts Point in the heart of the ACE Basin. Along with his family, Captain Joe and his best friend Randy Arms, chartered the waterways to catch red drum, trap crabs, bait shrimp, and eat local oysters. They’d finish the day on the dock overlooking Musselboro Creek and the marsh, with a beer in hand and a campfire to ward off mosquitoes.

Joe shared his Lake Murray home with his wife, Laura Blake-Orr; son, Blake Anderson Orr (23); daughter, Shelley Ann Orr (21); and his constant canine companions, Sugar, Samson, and Charlie.

He passed along his love and experience of boating and fishing to his family. Joe’s last act of seamanship was ensuring they had a worthy vessel to enjoy the sunsets and purple martins on the lake. The boat will be named in memory of their beloved husband and dad.

Joe will always be remembered for his sarcastic wit and one-liners. He always said, “You'll miss me when I’m gone.”

Joe was predeceased by his parents; his daughter, Caroline Dianna Orr; and brothers-in-law Roger Brown and Charles Blake. He is survived by his son, John Anderson Orr (Columbia, S.C.); his sister, Nancy Orr Brown (Pensacola, FL); and two sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and their beautiful children.

The family will welcome friends and relatives at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, 7600 Woodrow St. Irmo SC 29063 on Thursday, June 5th from 1:00–2:00 p.m. for visitation, with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Chapin Chapel is assisting the Orr family with arrangements. All are welcome to join the family afterwards at their home, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. for a Southern barbecue feast—one of Joe’s favorite meals. He will be interred with military honors due to him at the Beaufort National Cemetery on Friday, June 6th at noon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to one of the following charitable organizations:

Lung Cancer Research Foundation

https://give.lungcancerresearchfoundation.org/give/496849/#!/donation/checkout

Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign (VAORRC)

https://vn-agentorange.org/

Wounded Warrior Project

Or simply demonstrate an act of kindness to a stranger in memory of Joe