Wallace "Wally" Fairbourn Orr

Dad was always excited to move on to a new project or destination. He wasn’t one to overstay his welcome, and his visits to friends or family were always short.  He used to tell mom not to “dilly dally” and to go get in the car.

Dad passed away on Thursday, August 17, 2017, moving on to his next project and destination.  True to form he left quickly and didn’t “dilly dally”. 

He was born on June 18, 1931 to William Wallace Orr and Ella LaRae Fairbourne in Granger, Utah and was the youngest of three children. His mom passed away when he was just ten years old.  He carried her picture in his wallet for the rest of his life.  Based on the stories he told us, he had a rather lively childhood.  His two older sisters tried to keep him in line, but that was a big job. Some of his stories included driving the car into the canal in front of his house, swimming in the canal, being baptized in the canal, driving a tractor across the valley which took him all day, sneaking into the local grocery store at night to drink soda pop and eat candy bars, and hiking in the mountains.  He hitchhiked every day from Granger to Granite High School, and in his words, “sometimes I made it to school and sometimes I didn’t.” 

Dad served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in Hawaii and worked on old F4U Corsairs in VMF 214. He was in the squadron when they made the transition to the first F9 Panther jets. He was proud to be a Marine. He married a feisty redhead named Bonnie, and had three children – Debbie, Rick, and Cathy.  He worked as a glass cutter and installed the original windows in the Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument near Vernal, Utah in the bitter cold.  He became a real estate agent and worked for Woodbury Corporation and then Chidester Realtors. He later started his own business as Orr Realtors. All of his clients loved him.  He was honest, kept his word and always went the extra mile.  It seemed that dad knew just about everyone in the Salt Lake Valley including governors and church leaders.  Whether he was selling a house, being an uncle, a father, a husband, a grandpa or friend, he was always there for everyone.  He would give you anything he had, help in any way he could, give you a ride when needed, build anything you asked him to build, change a flat tire, and without hesitation, give you his last $20.  He was known as “Uncle Chuck” to his nieces and nephews and as the great neighbor who lived next door. He was known as the dad that didn’t put up with crap from his kids, and the dad that was always there for his kids.

Dad is survived by his daughter, Debbie (Reed) and son, Rick (Sallee); 7 grandchildren, Jayson (Danielle), Jennie, Ashlee, Amanda (Kevin), Hana (Shawn), Josh (Ellie) and Jenibeth (Matthew); and 14 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie, his daughter, Cathy, his grandson, Jake, and his sisters Gloria and Carol. 

So dad, as you would say, we’ll “Catch you later”.  You enjoy your new adventure! You’ve earned it! We can’t wait to hear your stories!

Services will be held Friday, August 25 at 1:00pm at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East.  Friends and family may gather from noon until 1:00pm prior to the services. Interment will be at Elysian Burial Gardens, 1075 East College Street, SLC UT. Online tributes and messages to the family can be made at www.holbrookmortuary.com.