Orville W. Hundley, 92
Orville William Hundley died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, one day short of his 93rd birthday after six months of declining health. He was born on Sept. 23, 1919, on his grandfather’s farm in Kickapoo, Kan., to Samuel and Della Hundley.
Orville graduated in 1937 from Leavenworth High School and attended one year of college at Kansas State University on a Santa Fe Railroad scholarship. He would have been happy that KSU beat Oklahoma on Saturday.
Orville married Reba E. Smiley on Oct. 21, 1946. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2011. During their married life, Orville and Reba lived in Kansas City, Kan., Denver, Colo., Estes Park, Colo., and Grand Junction, Colo., before moving closer to family in Coeur d’Alene in 2001.
After owning and operating the Root Beer Barn for a time, Orville made quartz radio crystals for a few years beginning in World War II. He later retired in 1984 after 25 years as a sales associate for Sears and Roebuck.
Orville was always active in church and was most recently a member of the Community United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir until his health prevented his participation. Orville was an active volunteer for Habitat for Humanity for many years. He studied homeopathy and was proud that he took no regular prescription medications. He enjoyed a variety of hobbies including fishing, bowling, pitching horseshoes, singing, playing the ukulele, playing cards and traveling. He was an avid correspondent and wrote letters to friends and family regularly. Orville was happy when all of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered in Coeur d’Alene for a time together this past summer.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Reba; two daughters, Marlynn Branam (Buffy) and Lana Hamilton (Gary); four grandchildren, Nick Branam (Rachel), Kate Swartley (Andre), Scott Hamilton (Aleasha) and Mary Hamilton; and five great-grandchildren, Isaac, Collin, Alayna and Adah Branam, and Oswald Swartley. He is also survived by one sister, Norma Floray (Alvan Jr.); and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Emily Shrader (Homer).
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at the Community United Methodist Church, 1470 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Orville’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.