Orville Ottie Orr, 91 of Granville, passed away the morning of Wednesday, May 21st 2025 peacefully at his home. He was born November 29th, 1933 in Newark, Ohio to Gladys (Orr) Lees.

Orville grew up in Newark and was the youngest of two boys. After high school, Orville received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University before seeking a masters degree from Ft. Wayne Bible College. It would be at Ft. Wayne where Orville would meet Audrey Sparks, who would later become his wife of 67 years. He always said "I took one look, I wrote to mother and said, this is the woman for me".

After leaving Ft. Wayne with his masters, Orville settled in Wauseon, OH where he would oversee his first congregation as pastor.

From here, Orville relocated back to Newark to lead another church before shifting into a successful career in education. Orville was the Principal at Newark's North Elementary, and became Licking County's youngest Principal. Orville once again progressed  into a new career with the States Bureau of Drug Abuse.

In 1972, while working for the State, Orville and Audrey purchased Granville's Buxton Inn, and started the meticulous process of renovating the inn and surrounding block of historical properties. For 42 years, the Orrs  welcomed guests from across the world to dine and lodge in one of the Ohio's most historic, and critically acclaimed hospitality establishments.

In 2014, Orville would retire with the title of the Buxton's longest innkeeper.

Orville always kept a strong faith in God, and never lost his childhood hobby of collecting. Some of the greatest joys in Orville's life was not only his historical preservation of the inn, but his family whom he loved endlessly.

He is survived by his daughters, Melanie Orr and Amy (Mike) Bentley; grandsons and best friends, Simon and Oliver Krajewski; nieces and nephew, Ronald (Kim) Orr, Sherri Orr, Lori (Bill) Thompson and Lisa Sparks; many great and great-great-nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Shirley Sparks; .

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Audrey Viola Orr; brother, Harry (Shirley Joanne) Orr, Jr.; brother-in-law, Dudley Sparks; nephew, Danny Sparks.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com.