Orville Fred Stoddard

Orville Fred Stoddard

Orville Fred Stoddard was born in Overton, Nebraska on May 31, 1923 to Fred and Amelia Stoddard.  He was the second of five children.  He died on April 22, 2017 in Englewood, Colorado at the age of 93. 

In 1941, Orville attended Kearney State Teacher’s College in Nebraska.  When WWII began, he volunteered to join the military effort.  He attended Columbia University Midshipman School in NY, Amphibious Training for the US Navy Scouts and Raiders in Fort Pierce, FL and the Advanced Naval Intelligence School in NY.  After being commissioned as a Lieutenant, he served in the Scouts and Raiders and then was assigned as a navigator on the USS Laurens APA 153 in the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan.  He was decorated with the American Defense Service medal, the Asiatic-Pacific 1-Star medal and the WWII Victory medal.  After the war ended, he returned to earn a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1948 at Colorado A & M College in Fort Collins.  Later in 1970, he went on to earn his Masters of Public Administration from the University of Colorado.  During his time at Colorado A & M, he played football for the “Aggies”.  He continued to follow and support the Colorado State University Rams all his life and was heavily involved with their alumni association. 

From 1949-1959, Orville worked for Consulting Engineer Sons Co. and Kiewit Corporation in Omaha, Nebraska, then Fruin Colnon Company in St. Louis, Missouri, doing heavy construction, as well as commercial and industrial design.  He was especially proud of his involvement with the 1949-1953 building of the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River in North Dakota.

He was married to Ruth Sihler, from Litchfield, Illinois, on July 23, 1950.  They settled in Colorado in 1959, where they raised three children.

Orville worked for the Colorado Department of Health from 1959-1989 engineering the design, construction and operation of water supply systems.  His specific focus was on waste water treatment systems and hazardous and solid waste management facilities.  Upon retirement from the State, he went on to become the Senior Principal partner at the McLaughlin-Stoddard Engineers consulting firm. 

Orville was a member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal church in Denver since 1959, and was very involved in parish life throughout that time.   He was also a member, and had several leadership roles, in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the US Navy Scouts and Raiders, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Republican party.

Orville is survived by his wife Mrs. Ruth Stoddard of Englewood, CO; daughter and son-in-law Mrs. Nancy and Mr. Jim Godwin of Tucson, AZ; son and daughter-in-law, the Reverend Mr. Gary and Mrs. Rachelle Stoddard of Englewood, CO; brothers Mr. Jay Stoddard of Grand Island, NE and Mr. Paul Stoddard of Larkspur, CO; grandson Mr. Daniel Stoddard of San Francisco, CA; granddaughter Mrs. Martha Osborn of Sedalia, CO; and grandson Mr. Matthew Stoddard of Centennial, CO.  He is preceded in death by his daughter Mrs. Janet Bond, his sister Mrs. Roberta Rathbun, his brother Mr. Gerald Stoddard, and his parents.

First and foremost, Orville will be remembered as a gentleman.  He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather.  His love for his country, and preserving its democratic freedoms, were an integral part of his life.  He was active until the end, and enjoyed sports, playing the trombone, traveling, reading, listening to Big Band music, driving on long road trips and participating in all forms of exercise.

Memorials may be made in his honor to the Deacon’s Discretionary Fund at St. Michael and All Angels church --1400 South University Boulevard, Denver, CO 80210.