WASP W W II, Congressional Gold Medal.∼Posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for her service in WWII as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). (Date of Approval : 01 Jul 2009)
Joanne Wallace graduated in the class of 44-W-2 on 13 Mar 1944. During her time with the WASP she was assigned to New Castle Army Air Base (Wilmington, DE) and Fairfax Army Air Field (Kansas City, KS). In the performance of her duties she flew many types of military aircraft, including the PT-17, BT-13, AT-6, B-25, C-47.
____________________________________________________________________
Joanne Wallace Orr 85, the former First Lady of Indiana, whose dashing youth as a race car driver and military pilot with the WASP during WWII, went on to share the spotlight with her former husband, Robert D. Orr, who was Governor of Indiana and then Ambassador to Singapore, died October 10, 2006 following a brief illness at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis.
Joanne Wallace was born in 1920 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and went by Josie all her life. Her father, Norman Wallace, co-owned Forbes & Wallace, Springfield's flagship department store. She grew up at Scotsmore, the family's Longmeadow home where she no doubt absorbed decorating skills from her gifted mother, the former Marjorie Robbins, whose gimlet eye assembled a splendid and gracious home. An avid equestrian, during her early adolescence, Josie once stowed away on a boxcar with her horse to reach Massachusetts from Maine.
She attended McDuffy School for Girls and Finch College in New York before enlisting in the military with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) for WWII. The WASP ferried warplanes from factories to airfields, and returned planes crippled from the battlefields for repairs. In this role, she soloed every type of military aircraft, especially those so crippled "that men refused to fly them," she used to remark, before her honorable discharge on December 4, 1944 at Randolph, Texas.
Ten days later, she and Robert D. Orr, the Yale College classmate of her brother, Lawrence Wallace, were married in Springfield, Massachusetts. The newlyweds set up temporary residence for a few years in Washington, D.C., before moving to Evansville, Indiana, where Mr. Orr was a sixth generation native.
While Mr. Orr pursued an entrepreneurial business career, Mrs. Orr commenced her interests in landscape gardening, interior decorating and the launching of a lifelong devotion to the visual and performing arts. In Evansville, while designing landscape, interiors and extensions to the family home and involving herself in local community affairs, she raised three children.
Always a lover of daring, she made a grand tour with her two daughters to all the most notorious rollercoasters around the country. While driving through Kansas, she suddenly was confronted with one of the worst tornados on record twisting her way. She paused momentarily to take stock of all manner of life scurrying for cover. Then, evincing less trepidation than Moses did at the portentous tempest that harassed entry to his parting sea, she gleefully remarked to her white knuckled passengers, "Wow, we can finally make good time," and floored it to rocket through the newly opened way.
In the mid-70s, with all the children starting their own families, Mr. Orr changed his career from business to politics and the couple moved to Indianapolis. Mr. Orr, a Republican, won elections first as State Senator for one term, then as Lt. Governor for two terms and finally as Governor for two terms (1981-89) during the Reagan years. During that time, Mrs. Orr redecorated the Lt. Governor's Office in the Capitol Building, and as First Lady redecorated the Governor's Residence, all with gifts and privately raised funding. When Mr. Orr was appointed Ambassador to Singapore (1989-91), she redecorated the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Singapore, again with gifts and donations she raised.
After 56 years of marriage, the Orrs were divorced in 2000. Throughout her political and diplomatic careers, Mrs. Orr raised awareness, attention and funding for the visual and performing arts in Indiana and elsewhere. Mrs. Orr took a leading role in starting the Indiana Arts Commission. A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana, Mrs. Orr was active in a long list of community affairs for which she received an Honorary Degree from the University of Southern Indiana, the Sagamore of the Wabash award, and a State of Indiana, Honorary Teacher's License for K-12. She served on numerous boards and was otherwise involved, including as Kenmore Association Regent, the Indianapolis Symphony Society, the Ballet Internationale, the Indianapolis Opera, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Decorative Arts Society and Trust, the Eiteljorg Museum, the Children's Museum, the Alliance of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Rug and Textile Society, the Asian Art Society, the IMA & Horticultural Society, the Children's Zoo, People of Vision, the Family Support Center Auxiliary, the Theatre Arts Guild, The State Assembly Women's Club, Clowes Hall Women's Committee, Traders Point Hunt Club, the Hoosier Salon Guild, the University of Southern Indiana, the Festival Music Society, the Fine Arts Society, the Historical Landmarks Foundation, the Museum of Miniature Houses, the National Museum of women in the Arts, the Indianapolis Historical Society, the Indianapolis Repertory Theater, the Indiana State Museum, the Indianapolis Art Center, the Indianapolis Civic Theater, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Colonial Dames, the Meridian Hill Country Club, and the Woodstock Club.
Mrs. Orr died peacefully as bagpipes trumpeted her transition in the manner to which she was accustomed. She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Wallace Pierce of Brewster, Massachusetts, her son Robert D. Orr, Jr. an architect of New Haven, Connecticut, her daughters. Susan Orr Jones and Robbins Orr Hail, both organic growers of Osceola, Missouri, eight grand children and four great-grandchildren.∼Orr, Joanne Wallace
Joanne Wallace Orr, 85, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis. She was a former First Lady of Indiana and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana. She was also enlisted with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots during World War II.
She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Pierce; son, Robert Orr Jr.; daughters, Susan Orr Jones and Robbins Orr Hail; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
There will be no funeral, but a memorial service is planned for next May in Indianapolis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Joanne W. Orr Charitable Fund, c/o The Central Indiana Community Foundation, 615 N. Adams St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Published in the Courier Press on 10/14/2006
Josie Orr 'lived one-of-a-kind life'
By KATE BRASER
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7622 or [email protected]
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Josie Orr, a former Indiana first lady who once lived in Vanderburgh County, died this week and was remembered for her adventurous spirit.
She was 85.
Born in Longmeadow, Mass., she moved to McCutchanville with former Indiana Gov. Robert Orr, an Evansville native, after their marriage in 1944. The two met when he was in prep school in Connecticut. The two had been divorced for several years before the former governor's death in March 2004.
Josie Orr's death Tuesday launched a flurry of stories and memories from state officials, friends and family who remember her as an outgoing woman with an appreciation for art and a flair for decorating.
Current Gov. Mitch Daniels released a statement Thursday upon news of Orr's death.
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"Josie Orr was a one-of-a-kind who lived a one-of-a-kind life," he said. "She risked her life for her country as a pilot in World War II, ferrying airplanes across the country on their way to Europe. From a prominent family in the East, she moved to Indiana after the war, adopted our state as her own, raised a family and was heavily involved in her community in Evansville, all before ever becoming first lady. On behalf of all Hoosiers who remember her fondly, I express sincere condolences to her children and grandchildren."
Marge Donovan of Evansville described her as "colorful" and said she was one of the first people she met when she moved here after World War II.
"I was at a party, the first party I was at in Evansville, and we were seated at the same table," Donovan said of her first introduction to Orr. "She was one of the very first persons I met in town. We were both newcomers at this party. I knew right then that she was going to be interesting."
An ambitious woman, Orr was squadron commander of her Air Force class during World War II and ferried planes during the war.
In Evansville, she was the first president of Planned Parenthood, a member of the Philharmonic Board and an organizer of the McCutchanville Garden Club.
Her active lifestyle spanned many hobbies. An Evansville friend, Luise Whiting Fryer, once described Orr in a newspaper article as an "accomplished horsewoman" as well as a "crackerjack tennis player, skier and participant in many other sports."
Orr was also a supporter of the arts. Once asked by a reporter why she installed a black wrought iron gazebo in the back lawn of the governor's mansion, Orr replied, "That's easy. I love beautiful things. I love to uplift the quality of people's lives, and I love to support Indiana artists."
Robert Orr Jr. said his mother "was quite a character."He said he was most proud of her service during World War II. "She flew every kind of military plane. She kept up her pilot's license for many years after, until it started becoming more technical and hard to keep up with."
Robert Orr Jr. said in more recent years his mother spent her time going to operas and the Indianapolis Zoo, which he described as one of her favorite places.
Orr said his mother suffered a short but serious illness that would have required surgery.
"I was just called at the beginning of last week and heard she was experiencing some shortness of breath, weakness and confusion," he said. "But many of her friends have told me it came on quickly because she just had lunch with some of them recently and this did not seem to be on the horizon."
Orr wished to donate her body to the Anatomical Gifts Program at the IU Medical School. Because of that, there is no funeral service, but family members are planning an outdoor memorial service in Indianapolis sometime in the spring.
"We want it to be a fun, outdoor event where people can share their many stories of her," Robert Orr Jr. said.
Orr is survived by three children, Robert Orr Jr. of New Haven, Conn.; and twin daughters, Robbins Hail and Susan Jones, both of Osceola, Mo. She is also survived by eight grandchildren.
Joanne Wallace graduated in the class of 44-W-2 on 13 Mar 1944. During her time with the WASP she was assigned to New Castle Army Air Base (Wilmington, DE) and Fairfax Army Air Field (Kansas City, KS). In the performance of her duties she flew many types of military aircraft, including the PT-17, BT-13, AT-6, B-25, C-47.
____________________________________________________________________
Joanne Wallace Orr 85, the former First Lady of Indiana, whose dashing youth as a race car driver and military pilot with the WASP during WWII, went on to share the spotlight with her former husband, Robert D. Orr, who was Governor of Indiana and then Ambassador to Singapore, died October 10, 2006 following a brief illness at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis.
Joanne Wallace was born in 1920 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and went by Josie all her life. Her father, Norman Wallace, co-owned Forbes & Wallace, Springfield's flagship department store. She grew up at Scotsmore, the family's Longmeadow home where she no doubt absorbed decorating skills from her gifted mother, the former Marjorie Robbins, whose gimlet eye assembled a splendid and gracious home. An avid equestrian, during her early adolescence, Josie once stowed away on a boxcar with her horse to reach Massachusetts from Maine.
She attended McDuffy School for Girls and Finch College in New York before enlisting in the military with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) for WWII. The WASP ferried warplanes from factories to airfields, and returned planes crippled from the battlefields for repairs. In this role, she soloed every type of military aircraft, especially those so crippled "that men refused to fly them," she used to remark, before her honorable discharge on December 4, 1944 at Randolph, Texas.
Ten days later, she and Robert D. Orr, the Yale College classmate of her brother, Lawrence Wallace, were married in Springfield, Massachusetts. The newlyweds set up temporary residence for a few years in Washington, D.C., before moving to Evansville, Indiana, where Mr. Orr was a sixth generation native.
While Mr. Orr pursued an entrepreneurial business career, Mrs. Orr commenced her interests in landscape gardening, interior decorating and the launching of a lifelong devotion to the visual and performing arts. In Evansville, while designing landscape, interiors and extensions to the family home and involving herself in local community affairs, she raised three children.
Always a lover of daring, she made a grand tour with her two daughters to all the most notorious rollercoasters around the country. While driving through Kansas, she suddenly was confronted with one of the worst tornados on record twisting her way. She paused momentarily to take stock of all manner of life scurrying for cover. Then, evincing less trepidation than Moses did at the portentous tempest that harassed entry to his parting sea, she gleefully remarked to her white knuckled passengers, "Wow, we can finally make good time," and floored it to rocket through the newly opened way.
In the mid-70s, with all the children starting their own families, Mr. Orr changed his career from business to politics and the couple moved to Indianapolis. Mr. Orr, a Republican, won elections first as State Senator for one term, then as Lt. Governor for two terms and finally as Governor for two terms (1981-89) during the Reagan years. During that time, Mrs. Orr redecorated the Lt. Governor's Office in the Capitol Building, and as First Lady redecorated the Governor's Residence, all with gifts and privately raised funding. When Mr. Orr was appointed Ambassador to Singapore (1989-91), she redecorated the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Singapore, again with gifts and donations she raised.
After 56 years of marriage, the Orrs were divorced in 2000. Throughout her political and diplomatic careers, Mrs. Orr raised awareness, attention and funding for the visual and performing arts in Indiana and elsewhere. Mrs. Orr took a leading role in starting the Indiana Arts Commission. A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana, Mrs. Orr was active in a long list of community affairs for which she received an Honorary Degree from the University of Southern Indiana, the Sagamore of the Wabash award, and a State of Indiana, Honorary Teacher's License for K-12. She served on numerous boards and was otherwise involved, including as Kenmore Association Regent, the Indianapolis Symphony Society, the Ballet Internationale, the Indianapolis Opera, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Decorative Arts Society and Trust, the Eiteljorg Museum, the Children's Museum, the Alliance of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Rug and Textile Society, the Asian Art Society, the IMA & Horticultural Society, the Children's Zoo, People of Vision, the Family Support Center Auxiliary, the Theatre Arts Guild, The State Assembly Women's Club, Clowes Hall Women's Committee, Traders Point Hunt Club, the Hoosier Salon Guild, the University of Southern Indiana, the Festival Music Society, the Fine Arts Society, the Historical Landmarks Foundation, the Museum of Miniature Houses, the National Museum of women in the Arts, the Indianapolis Historical Society, the Indianapolis Repertory Theater, the Indiana State Museum, the Indianapolis Art Center, the Indianapolis Civic Theater, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Colonial Dames, the Meridian Hill Country Club, and the Woodstock Club.
Mrs. Orr died peacefully as bagpipes trumpeted her transition in the manner to which she was accustomed. She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Wallace Pierce of Brewster, Massachusetts, her son Robert D. Orr, Jr. an architect of New Haven, Connecticut, her daughters. Susan Orr Jones and Robbins Orr Hail, both organic growers of Osceola, Missouri, eight grand children and four great-grandchildren.∼Orr, Joanne Wallace
Joanne Wallace Orr, 85, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis. She was a former First Lady of Indiana and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana. She was also enlisted with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots during World War II.
She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Pierce; son, Robert Orr Jr.; daughters, Susan Orr Jones and Robbins Orr Hail; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
There will be no funeral, but a memorial service is planned for next May in Indianapolis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Joanne W. Orr Charitable Fund, c/o The Central Indiana Community Foundation, 615 N. Adams St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Published in the Courier Press on 10/14/2006
Josie Orr 'lived one-of-a-kind life'
By KATE BRASER
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7622 or [email protected]
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Josie Orr, a former Indiana first lady who once lived in Vanderburgh County, died this week and was remembered for her adventurous spirit.
She was 85.
Born in Longmeadow, Mass., she moved to McCutchanville with former Indiana Gov. Robert Orr, an Evansville native, after their marriage in 1944. The two met when he was in prep school in Connecticut. The two had been divorced for several years before the former governor's death in March 2004.
Josie Orr's death Tuesday launched a flurry of stories and memories from state officials, friends and family who remember her as an outgoing woman with an appreciation for art and a flair for decorating.
Current Gov. Mitch Daniels released a statement Thursday upon news of Orr's death.
STORY TOOLS
E-mail story
Comments
"Josie Orr was a one-of-a-kind who lived a one-of-a-kind life," he said. "She risked her life for her country as a pilot in World War II, ferrying airplanes across the country on their way to Europe. From a prominent family in the East, she moved to Indiana after the war, adopted our state as her own, raised a family and was heavily involved in her community in Evansville, all before ever becoming first lady. On behalf of all Hoosiers who remember her fondly, I express sincere condolences to her children and grandchildren."
Marge Donovan of Evansville described her as "colorful" and said she was one of the first people she met when she moved here after World War II.
"I was at a party, the first party I was at in Evansville, and we were seated at the same table," Donovan said of her first introduction to Orr. "She was one of the very first persons I met in town. We were both newcomers at this party. I knew right then that she was going to be interesting."
An ambitious woman, Orr was squadron commander of her Air Force class during World War II and ferried planes during the war.
In Evansville, she was the first president of Planned Parenthood, a member of the Philharmonic Board and an organizer of the McCutchanville Garden Club.
Her active lifestyle spanned many hobbies. An Evansville friend, Luise Whiting Fryer, once described Orr in a newspaper article as an "accomplished horsewoman" as well as a "crackerjack tennis player, skier and participant in many other sports."
Orr was also a supporter of the arts. Once asked by a reporter why she installed a black wrought iron gazebo in the back lawn of the governor's mansion, Orr replied, "That's easy. I love beautiful things. I love to uplift the quality of people's lives, and I love to support Indiana artists."
Robert Orr Jr. said his mother "was quite a character."He said he was most proud of her service during World War II. "She flew every kind of military plane. She kept up her pilot's license for many years after, until it started becoming more technical and hard to keep up with."
Robert Orr Jr. said in more recent years his mother spent her time going to operas and the Indianapolis Zoo, which he described as one of her favorite places.
Orr said his mother suffered a short but serious illness that would have required surgery.
"I was just called at the beginning of last week and heard she was experiencing some shortness of breath, weakness and confusion," he said. "But many of her friends have told me it came on quickly because she just had lunch with some of them recently and this did not seem to be on the horizon."
Orr wished to donate her body to the Anatomical Gifts Program at the IU Medical School. Because of that, there is no funeral service, but family members are planning an outdoor memorial service in Indianapolis sometime in the spring.
"We want it to be a fun, outdoor event where people can share their many stories of her," Robert Orr Jr. said.
Orr is survived by three children, Robert Orr Jr. of New Haven, Conn.; and twin daughters, Robbins Hail and Susan Jones, both of Osceola, Mo. She is also survived by eight grandchildren.
WASP W W II, Congressional Gold Medal.∼Posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for her service in WWII as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). (Date of Approval : 01 Jul 2009)
Joanne Wallace graduated in the class of 44-W-2 on 13 Mar 1944. During her time with the WASP she was assigned to New Castle Army Air Base (Wilmington, DE) and Fairfax Army Air Field (Kansas City, KS). In the performance of her duties she flew many types of military aircraft, including the PT-17, BT-13, AT-6, B-25, C-47.
____________________________________________________________________
Joanne Wallace Orr 85, the former First Lady of Indiana, whose dashing youth as a race car driver and military pilot with the WASP during WWII, went on to share the spotlight with her former husband, Robert D. Orr, who was Governor of Indiana and then Ambassador to Singapore, died October 10, 2006 following a brief illness at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis.
Joanne Wallace was born in 1920 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and went by Josie all her life. Her father, Norman Wallace, co-owned Forbes & Wallace, Springfield's flagship department store. She grew up at Scotsmore, the family's Longmeadow home where she no doubt absorbed decorating skills from her gifted mother, the former Marjorie Robbins, whose gimlet eye assembled a splendid and gracious home. An avid equestrian, during her early adolescence, Josie once stowed away on a boxcar with her horse to reach Massachusetts from Maine.
She attended McDuffy School for Girls and Finch College in New York before enlisting in the military with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) for WWII. The WASP ferried warplanes from factories to airfields, and returned planes crippled from the battlefields for repairs. In this role, she soloed every type of military aircraft, especially those so crippled "that men refused to fly them," she used to remark, before her honorable discharge on December 4, 1944 at Randolph, Texas.
Ten days later, she and Robert D. Orr, the Yale College classmate of her brother, Lawrence Wallace, were married in Springfield, Massachusetts. The newlyweds set up temporary residence for a few years in Washington, D.C., before moving to Evansville, Indiana, where Mr. Orr was a sixth generation native.
While Mr. Orr pursued an entrepreneurial business career, Mrs. Orr commenced her interests in landscape gardening, interior decorating and the launching of a lifelong devotion to the visual and performing arts. In Evansville, while designing landscape, interiors and extensions to the family home and involving herself in local community affairs, she raised three children.
Always a lover of daring, she made a grand tour with her two daughters to all the most notorious rollercoasters around the country. While driving through Kansas, she suddenly was confronted with one of the worst tornados on record twisting her way. She paused momentarily to take stock of all manner of life scurrying for cover. Then, evincing less trepidation than Moses did at the portentous tempest that harassed entry to his parting sea, she gleefully remarked to her white knuckled passengers, "Wow, we can finally make good time," and floored it to rocket through the newly opened way.
In the mid-70s, with all the children starting their own families, Mr. Orr changed his career from business to politics and the couple moved to Indianapolis. Mr. Orr, a Republican, won elections first as State Senator for one term, then as Lt. Governor for two terms and finally as Governor for two terms (1981-89) during the Reagan years. During that time, Mrs. Orr redecorated the Lt. Governor's Office in the Capitol Building, and as First Lady redecorated the Governor's Residence, all with gifts and privately raised funding. When Mr. Orr was appointed Ambassador to Singapore (1989-91), she redecorated the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Singapore, again with gifts and donations she raised.
After 56 years of marriage, the Orrs were divorced in 2000. Throughout her political and diplomatic careers, Mrs. Orr raised awareness, attention and funding for the visual and performing arts in Indiana and elsewhere. Mrs. Orr took a leading role in starting the Indiana Arts Commission. A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana, Mrs. Orr was active in a long list of community affairs for which she received an Honorary Degree from the University of Southern Indiana, the Sagamore of the Wabash award, and a State of Indiana, Honorary Teacher's License for K-12. She served on numerous boards and was otherwise involved, including as Kenmore Association Regent, the Indianapolis Symphony Society, the Ballet Internationale, the Indianapolis Opera, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Decorative Arts Society and Trust, the Eiteljorg Museum, the Children's Museum, the Alliance of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Rug and Textile Society, the Asian Art Society, the IMA & Horticultural Society, the Children's Zoo, People of Vision, the Family Support Center Auxiliary, the Theatre Arts Guild, The State Assembly Women's Club, Clowes Hall Women's Committee, Traders Point Hunt Club, the Hoosier Salon Guild, the University of Southern Indiana, the Festival Music Society, the Fine Arts Society, the Historical Landmarks Foundation, the Museum of Miniature Houses, the National Museum of women in the Arts, the Indianapolis Historical Society, the Indianapolis Repertory Theater, the Indiana State Museum, the Indianapolis Art Center, the Indianapolis Civic Theater, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Colonial Dames, the Meridian Hill Country Club, and the Woodstock Club.
Mrs. Orr died peacefully as bagpipes trumpeted her transition in the manner to which she was accustomed. She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Wallace Pierce of Brewster, Massachusetts, her son Robert D. Orr, Jr. an architect of New Haven, Connecticut, her daughters. Susan Orr Jones and Robbins Orr Hail, both organic growers of Osceola, Missouri, eight grand children and four great-grandchildren.∼Orr, Joanne Wallace
Joanne Wallace Orr, 85, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis. She was a former First Lady of Indiana and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana. She was also enlisted with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots during World War II.
She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Pierce; son, Robert Orr Jr.; daughters, Susan Orr Jones and Robbins Orr Hail; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
There will be no funeral, but a memorial service is planned for next May in Indianapolis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Joanne W. Orr Charitable Fund, c/o The Central Indiana Community Foundation, 615 N. Adams St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Published in the Courier Press on 10/14/2006
Josie Orr 'lived one-of-a-kind life'
By KATE BRASER
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7622 or [email protected]
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Josie Orr, a former Indiana first lady who once lived in Vanderburgh County, died this week and was remembered for her adventurous spirit.
She was 85.
Born in Longmeadow, Mass., she moved to McCutchanville with former Indiana Gov. Robert Orr, an Evansville native, after their marriage in 1944. The two met when he was in prep school in Connecticut. The two had been divorced for several years before the former governor's death in March 2004.
Josie Orr's death Tuesday launched a flurry of stories and memories from state officials, friends and family who remember her as an outgoing woman with an appreciation for art and a flair for decorating.
Current Gov. Mitch Daniels released a statement Thursday upon news of Orr's death.
STORY TOOLS
E-mail story
Comments
"Josie Orr was a one-of-a-kind who lived a one-of-a-kind life," he said. "She risked her life for her country as a pilot in World War II, ferrying airplanes across the country on their way to Europe. From a prominent family in the East, she moved to Indiana after the war, adopted our state as her own, raised a family and was heavily involved in her community in Evansville, all before ever becoming first lady. On behalf of all Hoosiers who remember her fondly, I express sincere condolences to her children and grandchildren."
Marge Donovan of Evansville described her as "colorful" and said she was one of the first people she met when she moved here after World War II.
"I was at a party, the first party I was at in Evansville, and we were seated at the same table," Donovan said of her first introduction to Orr. "She was one of the very first persons I met in town. We were both newcomers at this party. I knew right then that she was going to be interesting."
An ambitious woman, Orr was squadron commander of her Air Force class during World War II and ferried planes during the war.
In Evansville, she was the first president of Planned Parenthood, a member of the Philharmonic Board and an organizer of the McCutchanville Garden Club.
Her active lifestyle spanned many hobbies. An Evansville friend, Luise Whiting Fryer, once described Orr in a newspaper article as an "accomplished horsewoman" as well as a "crackerjack tennis player, skier and participant in many other sports."
Orr was also a supporter of the arts. Once asked by a reporter why she installed a black wrought iron gazebo in the back lawn of the governor's mansion, Orr replied, "That's easy. I love beautiful things. I love to uplift the quality of people's lives, and I love to support Indiana artists."
Robert Orr Jr. said his mother "was quite a character."He said he was most proud of her service during World War II. "She flew every kind of military plane. She kept up her pilot's license for many years after, until it started becoming more technical and hard to keep up with."
Robert Orr Jr. said in more recent years his mother spent her time going to operas and the Indianapolis Zoo, which he described as one of her favorite places.
Orr said his mother suffered a short but serious illness that would have required surgery.
"I was just called at the beginning of last week and heard she was experiencing some shortness of breath, weakness and confusion," he said. "But many of her friends have told me it came on quickly because she just had lunch with some of them recently and this did not seem to be on the horizon."
Orr wished to donate her body to the Anatomical Gifts Program at the IU Medical School. Because of that, there is no funeral service, but family members are planning an outdoor memorial service in Indianapolis sometime in the spring.
"We want it to be a fun, outdoor event where people can share their many stories of her," Robert Orr Jr. said.
Orr is survived by three children, Robert Orr Jr. of New Haven, Conn.; and twin daughters, Robbins Hail and Susan Jones, both of Osceola, Mo. She is also survived by eight grandchildren.
Joanne Wallace graduated in the class of 44-W-2 on 13 Mar 1944. During her time with the WASP she was assigned to New Castle Army Air Base (Wilmington, DE) and Fairfax Army Air Field (Kansas City, KS). In the performance of her duties she flew many types of military aircraft, including the PT-17, BT-13, AT-6, B-25, C-47.
____________________________________________________________________
Joanne Wallace Orr 85, the former First Lady of Indiana, whose dashing youth as a race car driver and military pilot with the WASP during WWII, went on to share the spotlight with her former husband, Robert D. Orr, who was Governor of Indiana and then Ambassador to Singapore, died October 10, 2006 following a brief illness at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis.
Joanne Wallace was born in 1920 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and went by Josie all her life. Her father, Norman Wallace, co-owned Forbes & Wallace, Springfield's flagship department store. She grew up at Scotsmore, the family's Longmeadow home where she no doubt absorbed decorating skills from her gifted mother, the former Marjorie Robbins, whose gimlet eye assembled a splendid and gracious home. An avid equestrian, during her early adolescence, Josie once stowed away on a boxcar with her horse to reach Massachusetts from Maine.
She attended McDuffy School for Girls and Finch College in New York before enlisting in the military with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) for WWII. The WASP ferried warplanes from factories to airfields, and returned planes crippled from the battlefields for repairs. In this role, she soloed every type of military aircraft, especially those so crippled "that men refused to fly them," she used to remark, before her honorable discharge on December 4, 1944 at Randolph, Texas.
Ten days later, she and Robert D. Orr, the Yale College classmate of her brother, Lawrence Wallace, were married in Springfield, Massachusetts. The newlyweds set up temporary residence for a few years in Washington, D.C., before moving to Evansville, Indiana, where Mr. Orr was a sixth generation native.
While Mr. Orr pursued an entrepreneurial business career, Mrs. Orr commenced her interests in landscape gardening, interior decorating and the launching of a lifelong devotion to the visual and performing arts. In Evansville, while designing landscape, interiors and extensions to the family home and involving herself in local community affairs, she raised three children.
Always a lover of daring, she made a grand tour with her two daughters to all the most notorious rollercoasters around the country. While driving through Kansas, she suddenly was confronted with one of the worst tornados on record twisting her way. She paused momentarily to take stock of all manner of life scurrying for cover. Then, evincing less trepidation than Moses did at the portentous tempest that harassed entry to his parting sea, she gleefully remarked to her white knuckled passengers, "Wow, we can finally make good time," and floored it to rocket through the newly opened way.
In the mid-70s, with all the children starting their own families, Mr. Orr changed his career from business to politics and the couple moved to Indianapolis. Mr. Orr, a Republican, won elections first as State Senator for one term, then as Lt. Governor for two terms and finally as Governor for two terms (1981-89) during the Reagan years. During that time, Mrs. Orr redecorated the Lt. Governor's Office in the Capitol Building, and as First Lady redecorated the Governor's Residence, all with gifts and privately raised funding. When Mr. Orr was appointed Ambassador to Singapore (1989-91), she redecorated the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Singapore, again with gifts and donations she raised.
After 56 years of marriage, the Orrs were divorced in 2000. Throughout her political and diplomatic careers, Mrs. Orr raised awareness, attention and funding for the visual and performing arts in Indiana and elsewhere. Mrs. Orr took a leading role in starting the Indiana Arts Commission. A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana, Mrs. Orr was active in a long list of community affairs for which she received an Honorary Degree from the University of Southern Indiana, the Sagamore of the Wabash award, and a State of Indiana, Honorary Teacher's License for K-12. She served on numerous boards and was otherwise involved, including as Kenmore Association Regent, the Indianapolis Symphony Society, the Ballet Internationale, the Indianapolis Opera, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Decorative Arts Society and Trust, the Eiteljorg Museum, the Children's Museum, the Alliance of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Rug and Textile Society, the Asian Art Society, the IMA & Horticultural Society, the Children's Zoo, People of Vision, the Family Support Center Auxiliary, the Theatre Arts Guild, The State Assembly Women's Club, Clowes Hall Women's Committee, Traders Point Hunt Club, the Hoosier Salon Guild, the University of Southern Indiana, the Festival Music Society, the Fine Arts Society, the Historical Landmarks Foundation, the Museum of Miniature Houses, the National Museum of women in the Arts, the Indianapolis Historical Society, the Indianapolis Repertory Theater, the Indiana State Museum, the Indianapolis Art Center, the Indianapolis Civic Theater, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Colonial Dames, the Meridian Hill Country Club, and the Woodstock Club.
Mrs. Orr died peacefully as bagpipes trumpeted her transition in the manner to which she was accustomed. She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Wallace Pierce of Brewster, Massachusetts, her son Robert D. Orr, Jr. an architect of New Haven, Connecticut, her daughters. Susan Orr Jones and Robbins Orr Hail, both organic growers of Osceola, Missouri, eight grand children and four great-grandchildren.∼Orr, Joanne Wallace
Joanne Wallace Orr, 85, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis. She was a former First Lady of Indiana and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana. She was also enlisted with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots during World War II.
She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Pierce; son, Robert Orr Jr.; daughters, Susan Orr Jones and Robbins Orr Hail; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
There will be no funeral, but a memorial service is planned for next May in Indianapolis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Joanne W. Orr Charitable Fund, c/o The Central Indiana Community Foundation, 615 N. Adams St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Published in the Courier Press on 10/14/2006
Josie Orr 'lived one-of-a-kind life'
By KATE BRASER
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7622 or [email protected]
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Josie Orr, a former Indiana first lady who once lived in Vanderburgh County, died this week and was remembered for her adventurous spirit.
She was 85.
Born in Longmeadow, Mass., she moved to McCutchanville with former Indiana Gov. Robert Orr, an Evansville native, after their marriage in 1944. The two met when he was in prep school in Connecticut. The two had been divorced for several years before the former governor's death in March 2004.
Josie Orr's death Tuesday launched a flurry of stories and memories from state officials, friends and family who remember her as an outgoing woman with an appreciation for art and a flair for decorating.
Current Gov. Mitch Daniels released a statement Thursday upon news of Orr's death.
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"Josie Orr was a one-of-a-kind who lived a one-of-a-kind life," he said. "She risked her life for her country as a pilot in World War II, ferrying airplanes across the country on their way to Europe. From a prominent family in the East, she moved to Indiana after the war, adopted our state as her own, raised a family and was heavily involved in her community in Evansville, all before ever becoming first lady. On behalf of all Hoosiers who remember her fondly, I express sincere condolences to her children and grandchildren."
Marge Donovan of Evansville described her as "colorful" and said she was one of the first people she met when she moved here after World War II.
"I was at a party, the first party I was at in Evansville, and we were seated at the same table," Donovan said of her first introduction to Orr. "She was one of the very first persons I met in town. We were both newcomers at this party. I knew right then that she was going to be interesting."
An ambitious woman, Orr was squadron commander of her Air Force class during World War II and ferried planes during the war.
In Evansville, she was the first president of Planned Parenthood, a member of the Philharmonic Board and an organizer of the McCutchanville Garden Club.
Her active lifestyle spanned many hobbies. An Evansville friend, Luise Whiting Fryer, once described Orr in a newspaper article as an "accomplished horsewoman" as well as a "crackerjack tennis player, skier and participant in many other sports."
Orr was also a supporter of the arts. Once asked by a reporter why she installed a black wrought iron gazebo in the back lawn of the governor's mansion, Orr replied, "That's easy. I love beautiful things. I love to uplift the quality of people's lives, and I love to support Indiana artists."
Robert Orr Jr. said his mother "was quite a character."He said he was most proud of her service during World War II. "She flew every kind of military plane. She kept up her pilot's license for many years after, until it started becoming more technical and hard to keep up with."
Robert Orr Jr. said in more recent years his mother spent her time going to operas and the Indianapolis Zoo, which he described as one of her favorite places.
Orr said his mother suffered a short but serious illness that would have required surgery.
"I was just called at the beginning of last week and heard she was experiencing some shortness of breath, weakness and confusion," he said. "But many of her friends have told me it came on quickly because she just had lunch with some of them recently and this did not seem to be on the horizon."
Orr wished to donate her body to the Anatomical Gifts Program at the IU Medical School. Because of that, there is no funeral service, but family members are planning an outdoor memorial service in Indianapolis sometime in the spring.
"We want it to be a fun, outdoor event where people can share their many stories of her," Robert Orr Jr. said.
Orr is survived by three children, Robert Orr Jr. of New Haven, Conn.; and twin daughters, Robbins Hail and Susan Jones, both of Osceola, Mo. She is also survived by eight grandchildren.
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