Orlin H. Meyer, 76, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, Washington, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 21, 2011 at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage, California.

He was born on October 14, 1934 in Beecher, Illinois, the son of Herbert and Lorna (Wolkow) Meyer.  Orlin attended high school in Momence, Illinois where he played football. Prior to marriage, he volunteered for the army and completed boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Orlin was united in marriage to Elsie Schulze on June 15, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois.

Starting at a young age in Momence Illinois, Orlin had paper-routes and worked at an ice house.  He worked as a general contractor with his brother-in­-law, Delmer Mueller in Beecher, Illinois. He also owned Ace Glass shop in Steger, Illinois.

After moving to Sedro-Woolley in 1971, Orlin and Elsie owned and operated the Parkwood Mobile Manor in Sedro-Woolley for a number of years. In 1987, they opened the Woodshed in Sedro-Woolley which specialized in arts, crafts, framing and business supplies and operated it until their retirement.

In 1996, they began spending winters at the Imperial Spa Campground near Niland, California.

Following Elsie’s death in 2008, Orlin continued to winter in California.  He met his dear friend, Laura Sorg at the Fountain of Youth, also near Niland, California.

When wintering in California, Orlin played golf in the desert every morning, and even managed to hit a hole in one! He spent his afternoons having fun in the swimming pool and his evenings going to talent shows and live concerts. He never missed an opportunity to make a new friend and was always happy to lend a hand to anybody who needed it.

Orlin enjoyed building, carving and fixing things.  He won many awards for his artist wood carvings. He was active until his death. At age 76 he was still climbing ladders, painting his children’s homes, building a green house, remodeling friend’s travel trailers and doing yard-work.

Orlin volunteered his time and carpentry skills at the Sedro-Woolley Museum and the Walnut Tree Thrift Shop. He was member of the Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club for a number of years and served as a member of the Sedro-Woolley Planning Commission. He was recognized as small business person of the year in 1990 by the Service Corps of Retired Executives and the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce.

Orlin was a great friend, husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather.  He always had a story that could make you smile.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie Meyer and his parents, Herbert and Lorna Meyer.

He is survived by sons, Craig Meyer and his wife, Rhonda Nelson of Sedro­-Woolley, WA and Richard Meyer and his wife, Denise of Seattle, WA; four grandchildren, Trey, Cameron, Emma and Connor;  his sister, Myrna (Meyer) Mueller and her husband, Delmer of Beecher, Illinois; his nephews, Mike, Scott and Jeffrey Mueller and his great-nephew, Aaron Mueller all of Illinois; and his friend, Laura Sorg and her daughter, Annelise Sorg of Madeira Park, Sunshine Coast,  B.C. Canada.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 3:00pm at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Walt Rice of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church officiating.  Inurnment will be at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Sedro-Woolley Soroptimist Club, PO Box 249, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284.