Joseph Vincent Orlando, 83, of State College, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 2, 2007, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon, PA.
He was born on October 3, 1923, in Franklin, PA, the son of the late Anthony M. Orlando and Mary M. Caruso Orlando Spackman.
On August 28, 1948, he married Ethel I. Lehman of Franklin. They were married for 54 years until her death in April 2003.
Joe graduated from Franklin High School in 1941. He was a staff sargeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving as a medic in Europe with the 230th General Hospital. He graduated from Penn State University in 1950 with a degree in psychology and went on to do graduate work at Penn State where he was a member of Psy Chi, the Marketing Club, the Newman Club, the Industrial Relations Research Association, and Delta Upsilon Fraternity.
Following his graduation from college, he began working for the Canadian-based Crown Life Insurance Company. He was an insurance broker in State College until 1980 when he became personnel director and then risk manager for Uni-Mart. He retired from the latter position in 1997. He spent a year working for the PA Department of Highways and for many years taught business courses at Penn State part-time. He was also a talented musician and singer.
His professional memberships included Centre County Life Underwriters Association, National Association of Life Underwriters, American College of Life Underwriters, and the Risk & Insurance Management Society.
His public service and civic activities included working with Toastmaster's Club 1214 (all elected offices); serving as president, vice-president, finance officer, and director of Skills of Central PA, Inc.; president and director of Centre County Tuberculosis & Health Society; a director of the American Lung Association of PA; a director of the State College Area Chamber of Commerce; and a lifetime member of the Elks Club of State College. For many years, Joe was a volunteer at Centre Community Hospital. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in State College.
Joe is survived by two daughters, Michelle A. Fox, of Harrisburg and Melissa M. Joppy and her husband James, of Cleona; two sons, Michael J. Orlando and his wife Victoria, of Salisbury, NC, and Mark S. Orlando and his wife Karen, of Colbert, WA; one sister, Grace V. Orlando, of Franklin; two stepsisters, Lois Minnigh and Sally Ricalton, of Franklin; twelve grandchildren, Peter Fox of Lemoyne, Nicholas Fox, of Enola, Michael, Nicole, and Eric Joppy of Cleona, Lauren and Daniel Orlando, of Salisbury, NC, Angela Rickett and Kayla Orlando, of Colbert, WA, and Amanda Dean, Amy Orlando, and Randi Orlando, of Spokane, WA; and thirteen great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, William Spackman, and three stepsisters, Inez Angus, Jane McBride, and Joan Hahn.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2007, at the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral Home, 1034 Benner Pike, State College, with Monsignor David Lockhard officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow the service at Centre County Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Lung Association at 209 E. Beaver Ave., State College, PA 16801 or the American Heart Association at 501 Howard Ave., Altoona, PA 16601.
A guest book may be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com