Joseph Robert Orr

Joseph Robert Orr, or Joe as he recently preferred, passed away unexpectedly on September 17, 2021. Joseph was the beloved son of Robert (Bob) and Catherine (Katie) Orr. A brilliant mind, a quick wit, a fair diplomat, a passionate orator, a kind soul, a unique spirit, a calming presence, a humble leader, a loyal friend, and a loving son are words used to describe Joseph by those fortunate to know and love him during his 20 years with us.

Joseph was born on February 27, 2001, in Arlington, VA, and moved with his parents to Houston, Texas, just before his second birthday. He attended the Post Oak School from the age of three until he graduated in May 2019. At Post Oak he made lifelong friends and developed his strong curiosity and powerful intellect. He was an enthusiastic and committed participant in Montessori Model United Nations, attending conferences in New York and China during his elementary and middle school years, and serving as a DAIS leadership member and teaching assistant for the younger participants when in high school. Joseph co-founded the school's poker club and took pride in his victory at the schools first poker championship. Outside of school, Joseph represented the city of Houston as an exchange student in the Chiba-Houston Sister City Youth exchange in Japan. He was later selected to be a member of Houston Mayors Youth Council and served from 2017-2019.

After graduation from high school, Joseph attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where he continued his study of political science and international affairs and was selected as the only freshman on the Pitzer College Model United Nations team. When COVID concerns prohibited students from returning to campus, he turned to public service, working as an Election Clerk for Harris County during elections in 2020 and 2021. Joseph was excited to continue his studies at his father's alma mater of University of Denver, where he had recently transferred.

Joseph was passionate about many things in his life: music, film, video games, fine food, and current events chief among them. He found great joy in engaging friends in spirited debates and in-depth discussions of those passions. Joseph was honored to have two films created with friends named as official selections of the Chicago Film Festivals CineYouth Film Festival. One of those films was selected as the Audience Choice Award of the Extremely Young Film Festival sponsored by the Aurora Picture Show and the MFAH. He was a talented writer whose poetry and essays received awards and publication in a national magazine. Joseph had an adventurous spirit. His appreciation of cultures and people of the world developed through study and travel with his family and classmates to Japan, China, Russia, England, France, Norway, Finland, Ireland, Canada and Jamaica.

Joseph is preceded in death by his grandparents E Douglas and Freddie Anderson, Joseph Armstrong Orr, and James and Ann Entringer. He is survived by his parents, his aunts and uncles-Patricia Molle (Patrick), Susan Bray, Mark Entringer (Lori), James Entringer (Carol), Mary Noble (Rick), Patricia Vowell, Margaret Fukunaga, and Ann Cobb (Mike)-as well as his many cousins, second cousins, extended relatives and cherished friends. He also leaves behind his beloved pups, Pando and Mercedes.

Joseph was laid to rest at a graveside service for family and close friends at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston on Saturday, October 2, at 10:30 a.m. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 4:00 p.m., at Asia Society Texas in Houston. We humbly invite those wishing to make a memorial donation in lieu of flowers to consider supporting organizations important to Joseph such as Montessori Model United Nations, Aurora Picture Show or Writers in the Schools. Josephs parents also wish to thank the University of Denver and Rev. Gregory Han of Interfaith Ministries for their compassionate support.