Tribute: Orrin P. Burroughs

Orrin P. Burroughs was born April 7, 1937 in Tazwell, Va. to parents Jim and Cora Burroughs. Orrin had seven brothers and seven sisters. As a proud member of the National Guard in 1954, Orrin then went to further his career in the United States Air Force and served proudly for 12 years. He was stationed at Rapid City, S.D., Goose Bay Air Base in Labrador and Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane.

Orrin met his beautiful wife (Bonnie) Bonita Jeanette Uhlenkott in Spokane, and they happily married at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Spokane in 1957.

In 1968, after Orrin retired from the service, the new family moved back to the area of Poplar Hill, Va. for 12 wonderful years and then back to Odessa to finish raising their family. Orrin and Bonnie shared and raised five children. The first-born son passed away at birth. Still living are Steven Burroughs and wife Diane of Spokane, David Burroughs of Redmond, Ore., Mark Burroughs of Topeka, Kan., Ann Marie Richardson and husband David, along with their two children Addison and Jacob of San Antonio, Texas. All of Orrin's children and grandchildren were his pride and joy.

Orrin loved working in the farming community and had an accomplished painting business. With his wife Bonnie a devote Catholic, Orrin and Bonnie together were always going above and beyond, keeping St. Joseph's Catholic Church beautiful. From refinishing the altar and fixing the roof, painting the cathedral ceilings and walls, Orrin's workmanship shined through with true beauty, as it did with his work in their beautiful home. Orrin was an avid gardener with a flair for tomatoes.

He is survived by his family: Francis Parcell, Maxine Eaton, Betty Lane, John Burroughs, his wife, children and grandchildren and his beloved dog Mitzy.

Services are to be held Monday, August 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Odessa, with military honors to follow at 3 p.m. at the Washington Sate Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake.