Dr. Robert Orr, full-time musician, part-time retiree!
GOOD HOPE – Robert Orr has been retired for 21 years, but you'd never know it by talking to him. At 88 years of age (he was specific: "88 years and 7 months!"), he has earned his rest; he just chooses not to cash in on the plan. An active member of First Baptist Church Cullman, Orr also sings in a local community senior choir led by his wife Helen Orr, and plays clarinet for the Cullman Community Band. While admitting age is difficult for some people, he wears his like a badge of honor.
"I'm proud to be 88-and-a-half," he said. "I'm proud I can still get out and do as much as I do."
Orr's story began in Bryson City, North Carolina, near the Qualla Boundary Cherokee reservation along the eastern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains. There he was born in 1928, and there he lived until he graduated from high school. In 1941, when he was in the seventh grade, Orr decided to get involved in his school's music program. His parents sacrificed to buy him a professional grade clarinet, and he was off to the races.
By 1944, he and school friends had organized a dance band that played for school functions, and even hit the road regularly. Every Friday evening, they made the 10-mile drive down to the town of Cherokee on the reservation, where Orr earned $1 per hour, a substantial bonus over the 25 cents per hour he made from his part-time job at the local Belk. They even played their horns, woodwinds and vibraphones in local churches.
Orr reflects on his experience in those small conservative country churches, "That was pretty advanced for that time."
When he graduated in 1945 (In his system at that time, there were only 11 grades), he headed to then Wake Forest College, where he majored in history and government with the intent of becoming a teacher. Music wasn't far away, though; a new college instructor had just started a marching band, symphonic band and choir. Orr joined all three.
After he graduated from college in 1949, he got his teaching job; but after two years Uncle Sam had another idea. Orr was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. After basic training, he received advanced training as a light weapons infantryman. He would not get the chance to try out his skills, though.
In Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Orr recalled, "My whole company got sent to Korea, and I stayed there and pulled KP (kitchen duty).” The college-educated teacher soon found himself assigned to a training unit at the base, and he served out the duration of his enlistment in that capacity. In 1953, he left the Army and returned to teach in his hometown for two more years.
During that time, Orr took an interest in religious education, and in 1956 enrolled in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he received a master's degree in religious education and started on a doctorate. Before he could write his dissertation, though, his plans got changed again: Orr was recruited to work for the Southern Baptist Convention's Sunday School Board (now called Lifeway) in Nashville. There he finally found a place where he could settle down. He remained with the board for 33 years, retiring in 2005.
While there, Orr racked up two more achievements. The first he would say was easily the more important. Still single at 39, he ran into a young lady in Nashville who had grown up in the same church he did back in Bryson City. The two had even gone out a time or two, but being more than eight years apart in age (she is younger) was too much of a problem in their youth.
Orr laughed, "I told her I had to wait for her to grow up."
At 39, he no longer hesitated. In 1967, Robert and Helen Orr were married. They are still together today, and will celebrate their 50th anniversary next year.
A few years later, he kept his unfulfilled academic commitment and completed his doctorate. That's right: he's Dr. Robert Orr. He prefers not to use the title, though, and admits that his diplomas and other academic certificates are packed up.
During the span of his board career, Orr continued to play his clarinet, though only sporadically, for occasional church services and the like. When he retired in 2005, that changed quickly. He found himself in the Cullman area at the time that First Baptist Church was forming an orchestra. He dusted off his clarinet and signed up. Very shortly afterwards he received an invitation that would make him a charter member of the Cullman Community Band. The church orchestra dissolved in 2009, but the community band is going stronger than ever. And so is Orr.
"I've had a lot of ailments, but they haven't kept me from being active," he said, "and I thank the Lord for that."
Orr's wife Helen directs the Senior Spirit Singers, a 50-member senior adult community choir that sings at nursing homes, church organizational meetings and other events. Orr sings in the choir, and also in a specialty quartet within the larger choir, in addition to his instrumental duties with the band.
The Orrs love music and enjoy the active lifestyle they have been able to maintain. Various health issues, joint surgeries and a recent automobile accident challenge them, but have not stopped them.
Orr proudly stated, "We decided quite long ago that, in retirement, it's better to wear out than to rust out."
Catch Orr in action at this year's Cullman Community Band Christmas concert on Monday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre at Wallace State. The concert is free, but canned good donations will be collected for Cullman Caring for Kids.
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