Orville T. Northington Obituary

Orville T. Northington, 89, born in Altus, Oklahoma, November 12, 1926, passed away on April 12, 2016 at the Spanish Peaks Medical Center in Walsenburg, Colorado. He was a lifelong farmer, water well driller, and World War II veteran where he served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Randall in the Pacific theater of war. Upon an Honorable Discharge from the Navy he married Mildred A. Atnip and resided in Oklahoma and Texas before moving to Deming, New Mexico, where he spent most of the rest of his life.

Orville entered the service with the US Navy on July 28, 1944 in Fabens, Texas, El Paso County. After completing boot camp and recruit training, he was assigned to the USS Randall APA 224, where he served his entire duty. Orville held the following ratings, AS-Apprentice Seaman, S2C- Seaman Second Class, S1C-Seaman 1st Class, Cox-Coxwain. Orville's awards, citations, and campaign ribbons include China Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia and Europe clasp and the National Defense Medal. He was honorably discharged on June 7, 1946 at Naval Base TI San Pedro, California.

Orville married Mildred Atnip in Colorado Springs, Colorado on August 18, 1946. They moved to Oklahoma and Texas where he worked several farms including the family farm in Lubbock, Texas. They farmed west Texas until 1956, when he rented two farms in Deming, New Mexico. It was during this time, Orville became known for his "First Bale of Cotton" in Luna County four years in a row. In 1970, he started Northington Drilling, a water well drilling business. He managed and operated the drilling business until its sale in 1988. Orville eventually purchased both of the farms he had been renting and continued to farm until his retirement. He was an avid fisherman, gardener, inventor and poet.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred, brother Charles of Lubbock, Texas, daughter Shirley Stevens of Colorado Springs, Colorado, son Kris of Las Cruces, New Mexico, son Tracy of Albuquerque, New Mexico, son Travis of Wichita, Kansas, 11 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by brothers Garland, Hartsell, Richard, Norris, Burlie Ray, and sister, Frances Fletcher.

A viewing will take place Tuesday, April 19, 2016 from 4:00-5:00 pm, at Swan-Law Funeral Directors, 501 N. Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs. Burial will be at the Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Avenue in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at 11:15 am, Pavilion C.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be considered for the following: "Friends of the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC" or "Farm Aid".