Orville H. Lauver, 89, of Timbercrest Retirement Community, North Manchester, Indiana, died at 7:20 am, Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Timbercrest Healthcare Center. He was born on July 19, 1932, his father’s birthday, in Richfield, Pennsylvania, to Christian M. and Dorothy (Grace Hart) Lauver.
Orville graduated valedictorian in 1950 from Fayette Township High School in McAlisterville, Pennsylvania and majored in Business Administration at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, graduating in May of 1954. Orville was drafted by the United States Army in 1954 and was stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, as a Battalion Clerk until 1956. He began his career at Caterpillar, and Bendix Corporation, in York, Pennsylvania before finding his true career passion in the financial services industry. He worked for Mutual Funds Associates before starting his own firm, Lauver & Company in 1965. Following a very successful forty-four years Orville sold Lauver & Company in 2009 and retired. Orville was very active in his community: He was Board Chairman for the York Suburban School District for seven years, Member of the York Chamber of Commerce for seven years. Board Member of the Brethren Home in New Oxford, Pennsylvania for nine years, and Board member of the Church of the Brethren Camp Eder, where he raised money for one of their first buildings. He was active in the Church of the Brethren, and worked to support the Bethany Seminary located in Oakbrook, Illinois at the time. Orville had perfect attendance in Rotary for fifty seven years. His home Rotary Club was in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. In addition, Orville attended all thirty four clubs in his Rotary District multiple times, and was recognized by the District Governor for his outstanding commitment to Rotary values. Rotary has the Four Way Test Coin. On one side it reads “Service Over Self”. On the other side are the Four-Way Test values: “Is it the truth, Is it fair to all concerned, Will it build goodwill and better friendship, Will it be beneficial to all concerned.” Orville purchased, and gave away, over thirteen thousand Rotary Four-Way Test coins to students and young adults who have been positively influenced by the coin’s words. Orville was known for his generosity and countless acts of kindness, such as giving away Hershey candy bars at meetings, and anonymously buying meals for families and elderly couples eating at the same restaurant.
Orville was married to Phyllis Jean Rowe from Smithburg, Maryland from 1953-1983. They had three sons, Kirk (Kiki) Lauver of West Chester, Pennsylvania, Neil (Julie) Lauver of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Shea Lauver of York, Pennsylvania; and four grandchildren Adria (Michael) Adam, Alan (Diana), and Brady; and three great grandchildren, Michael, Joshua, and Zachary. He married Iona Mae (Million) Overholt, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on September 5, 1992; she died May 14, 2014. Iona had two children, John (Rose) Overholt of Johns Creek, Georgia, and Beth (Brad) Bowman of Cambridge City, Indiana; she had three grandsons, Jim (Melissa) Overholt, Robert (Elle) Overholt, and Chad (Sarah) Bowman; and four great grandchildren, Emma Bowman, Boyd Bowman, Anne Marie Overholt, and James Overholt. He was also preceded in death by his parents, brother Raymond Lauver, and half sister Orpha Leister.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender Chapel, 207 W. Main Street, North Manchester, with Chaplain Laura Stone officiating. Friends may call 10-11:00 am Wednesday, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Richfield, Pennsylvania on Friday June 17, 2022.
Preferred memorial is Unity School of Religion, 1901 NW Parkway, Unity Village, MO 64065.
The memorial guest book for Orville may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
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