George Orphan, Sr., age 89, went home to be with the Lord November 25th, 2014. George was the only son of five children born to Frank and Hereklia (Spinelli) Orphan in Manhattan, New York.
Despite being deaf in one ear, George was determined to join the Navy during World War II. He served as a Navy Corpsman attached to the Marines in Okinawa, Japan; and provided compassionate medical care to Veterans with terminal cancer. After he was honorably discharged from the Navy, George went on to accomplish a degree in Funeral Science.
George met the love of his life, Joyce Estelle Blinn, at Glad Tidings Tabernacle in Manhattan. They married in 1956 and moved from the Bronx to Astoria, Queens, then to Massapequa Park, Long Island, where they lived for 30 years and raised three children; George Jr., Cheryl, and Kenn.
George worked at Grumman Aerospace for over 25 years and also as a funeral director for friends and family. After George retired, he and his wife Joyce moved to Palm Coast, FL where they have lived for the past 20 years.
George was a devoted husband, father, and friend. He worked hard all of his life to provide for his wife and family. He loved the Lord and one of his favorite things to do was to praise Him in song. He and Joyce enjoyed singing hymns, and his unwavering faith was an example to all.
George was an exceptionally skilled carpenter and built a shed, furniture and a garden swing. He loved bicycling and drives in the country with his family; and he was always eager to engage in lively discussions about current events of the day.
Preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Sophie, Mary and Kitty, he is survived by his loving wife Joyce, daughter Cheryl, his sons George and Kenn, his sister Betty and three grandchildren: Phillip, Mykaela, and Michael. George also leaves an extended family of brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews and his church family which meant the world to him.
There will be a Visitation hour at 2:00pm with a Service following at 3:00pm at Lohman Funeral Home Palm Coast on Tuesday, December 2, 2014. There will also be a Memorial Service held in San Diego, California where he will be laid to rest at a Veteran's Cemetery.
The Orphan family wishes to thank Vitas Hospice, Pastor Bill Turner, and Central Baptist Church for their compassion and support through this difficult time.