Douglas Nelson Orndorff
Files
Dublin Core
Title
Douglas Nelson Orndorff
Subject
Orndorff, Douglas Nelson (1911-1967)
Description
Portrait of Douglas Nelson Orndorff wearing a suit and tie.
Douglas grew up in Woodstock, the oldest child of Clarence Lemuel and Vesta Schaeffer Orndorff. In 1920, the family lived in Woodstock where Douglas’ father worked as a machinist at the creamery. Douglas had four younger siblings at that time.
He married 21-year old Stella Virginia Combs in April 1938 when he worked as a Drug clerk. She was from Rockingham County and lived in Broadway.
Five years later, Douglas enlisted in the Army and became part of the 78th Replacement Battalion, 455th Replacement Company. His rank was “T-4”. He served from June 1943 to November 1945.
Douglas and Stella divorced a couple of years after he got out of the military.
Less than a year later, he married his second wife, Margret Vernell Webber Hamner (1908-1977) in Harrisonburg, where they both lived. When they married, Douglas was an apprentice embalmer while Margret worked as the manager of the “Smart & Thrifty” store.
The 1950 census found the couple living on N. Garfield Street in Arlington where Douglas worked as a mortician in a funeral home. The couple had an 11-year old son, Frank F. Orndorff.
Eventually, they moved back to Woodstock, where Douglas died in 1967. He and Margret are both buried in Lynchburg, where she was born.
Douglas grew up in Woodstock, the oldest child of Clarence Lemuel and Vesta Schaeffer Orndorff. In 1920, the family lived in Woodstock where Douglas’ father worked as a machinist at the creamery. Douglas had four younger siblings at that time.
He married 21-year old Stella Virginia Combs in April 1938 when he worked as a Drug clerk. She was from Rockingham County and lived in Broadway.
Five years later, Douglas enlisted in the Army and became part of the 78th Replacement Battalion, 455th Replacement Company. His rank was “T-4”. He served from June 1943 to November 1945.
Douglas and Stella divorced a couple of years after he got out of the military.
Less than a year later, he married his second wife, Margret Vernell Webber Hamner (1908-1977) in Harrisonburg, where they both lived. When they married, Douglas was an apprentice embalmer while Margret worked as the manager of the “Smart & Thrifty” store.
The 1950 census found the couple living on N. Garfield Street in Arlington where Douglas worked as a mortician in a funeral home. The couple had an 11-year old son, Frank F. Orndorff.
Eventually, they moved back to Woodstock, where Douglas died in 1967. He and Margret are both buried in Lynchburg, where she was born.
Creator
Morrison Studio
Source
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Publisher
Shenandoah County Library
Date
Undated
Contributor
Identified by Sandra Armentrout, niece of the subject, who has a similar photo in her family album.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records.
Rights
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Relation
Douglas Nelson Orndorff appears in Morrison Studio Collection images 03090 and 003094.
Identifier
003090
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Glass Negatives
Collection
Citation
Morrison Studio, “Douglas Nelson Orndorff,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed December 26, 2024, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/29115.
Comments
Faith Hood
Just letting you know, I love this. I am Douglas Orndorff's only granddaughter.
Reply