Jay Dee Van Orden died Thursday, March 30 on his 86th birthday in Logan Regional Hospital of complications following surgery. He was born March 30, 1920, in Lewiston, Utah to Cethel Jay and Lucilla Coley Van Orden. He married Virginia Mae Tyner in 1941 and is the father of two daughters and one son; Claudia Perkins of Moab, Utah, Kathy Lu O’Hara of Tucson, Arizona and Jay Wallace Van Orden of Newport News, Virginia.
Dee graduated from the USAC with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Radio Technology in 1942 and then served in the Navy during World War II as a Sonar Technician, retiring as a Lieutenant in 1946. After his service he returned to Lewiston and worked with his father in the Van Plumbing and Heating. He later became sole owner of the company where he and his wife worked until his retirement in 1988.
Dee served on the Lewiston City Council in charge of water and sewer and was instrumental in upgrading these systems. He remained interested in Lewiston’s development for the remainder of his life. He served on the water and sewer board. He was a charter member of the Lewiston JayCees, the volunteer Fire Department and he volunteered to oversee the recycling center. Dee was honored by being chosen as the Grand Marshall of the Lewiston July 4th parade in 1999. Dee and his wife were Weather Watchers for many years. They reported the weather to the Herald Journal and any extremes to the Weather Bureau.
Dee was preceded in death by his parents, a sister (Venice), a daughter-in-law (Ann Chidister Van Orden), and a son-in-law (Thomas O’Hara).He is survived by his wife, his three children; grandchildren, Deborah Kempe (Bobbie), David Perkins (Denise), Jennifer Worthington (McKay), Daniel Perkins (Melissa), Rebecca Perkins, Jennifer Ann Noonan (Shawn); and 10 great granddaughters and one great grandson.
Services will be held at 12 noon, Wednesday, April 5, 2006 in the Lewiston 3rd Ward Chapel, 16 South Main Street, Lewiston, Utah. The viewing will be from 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. Burial will be in the Lewiston Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family and a register book signed at
www.allenmortuaries.net
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Arrangements by Allen-Cranney Mortuary, North Logan, Utan.