Howard Orrell

Howard Orrell, 97, of Linwood, passed away Sunday, February 26, 2023, at his home. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Smith Grove Baptist Church, 3462 Sowers Road, Linwood, by the Rev. Terry Smith. Burial with military and firefighter rites will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30-3:00 PM on Wednesday at the church prior to the service. Mr. Orrell was born on January 8, 1926, in Davidson County, to the late Mr. Grover Cleveland Orrell and Mrs. Minnie Smith Orrell. He proudly served his country in the United States Army and National Guard, and was a veteran of World War II in Germany and France. Howard retired from Stallings Refrigeration in Charlotte. Long active in his community, he was the co-founder and the first Chief of the Churchland Fire Department, served on the Davidson County School Board, and had served as a Reserve Deputy with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Department and on the Civil Defense Council. He was the oldest active member of Smith Grove Baptist Church, where attended regularly. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Walter, Roy, and Herman Orrell; sisters, Hazel Lanning, Mae Staley, Thelma Allred, and Dot Koontz; and his grandson, Nick Orrell. He is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Ethel Swinson Orrell, of the home; his daughter, Wanda Orrell Jones and husband, Johnny; his sons, Jerry Orrell and wife, Gaye, and Tim Orrell and wife, Lisa; his grandchildren, Todd Orrell and partner, Teresa, Brian Orrell and wife, Wendy, Stephanie Garrett and husband, Scott, Jessica Smith and husband, Bobby, and Shannon Herrin and husband, Tony; his step-granchildren, Lauren Macias and husband, Hector and Alex Iseman, and wife, Rachel; fifteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces. A special thanks to Trellis Supportive Care and all the other caregivers for their support over the past year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.