Davidson College – In Memoriam
Davidson College Alumni & Friends Obituaries
Thomas Franklin Henley ’33, of Laurinburg, N.C., died Nov. 21, 2008, in his home.
He was a Navy veteran of WWII and a retired psychiatrist.
He is survived by his wife, Richie, 801 Sherbrooke Cir., Laurinburg, NC 28352; son, Thomas II; daughter, Katherine Youman; and a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Henderson.
William Robert “Bob” Morrow, Jr. ’33, died peacefully May 25 in High Point, N.C. A resident of High Point all his life, Morrow was born Sept. 16, 1912, the son of Deborah Sherrod Morrow and William Robert Morrow.
He graduated from Davidson, majoring in business and English. He served as circulation manager for the Davidsonian, lettered in tennis, and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving four years as lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. He served on a helicopter carrier for antisubmarine work and air sea rescue in the Atlantic and on the AKA 63 Theenin, an assault ship, in the Pacific.
For 43 years of his business career, he was vice president of Sherrod Shirt Company and in sales for Anvil Brand, Inc. He operated Morrow Associates Apparel Sales from 1975 to 1998. He was an honorary lifetime member of the National Association of Wholesale Apparel Salesmen and a member of Men’s Apparel Club of Carolinas and the American Garment Manufacturer’s Association.
Joining in 1948, he was the oldest and longest serving member of the High Point Rotary Club. He served three terms on the board of directors and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the board of directors of the Salvation Army Boys Club and the Uwharrie District Boy Scouts Council.
He served in various campaigns for United Way, Red Cross, YMCA, and High Point Regional Hospital. He was also a member of the American Legion.
An avid tennis player all his life, he played until age 84, when his vision failed. He was a lifelong member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served in many capacities including the board of trustees, the administrative board, the “70” visitation group, the evangelism commission, as well as having taught Sunday school. He was a loyal member of the adult fellowship class for well over 50 years.
As a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, he was known for his positive outlook, gentle nature, and delightful sense of humor. His beloved wife of over 57 years, Marjorie McKay Morrow, passed away May 9, 2008.
He will be deeply missed by his two daughters and their families, Mollie M. Day (James M. Day), 2105 Fallon Oaks Ct., Raleigh, NC 27608-1676; and Debbie M. Day (John M. Day); and grandchildren, Emily Sherrod Day, James Matthew Day, Wesley Robert Day, John Michael Day, Jr., and Ashley Morrow Day. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law, Carolyn McGoogan and Susie McKay. He was preceded in death by his only brother, A. Sherrod Morrow ’32.
Robert Bradford Orr ’33, of Sanibel Island, Fla., and formerly of Hingham, Mass., died on Dec. 14. After graduating from Davidson, he received his M.D. from the University of Virginia. During WWII, he was a U.S. Naval medical officer in England attached to a D-Day invasion support group and achieved the rank of lieutenant commander. Following the war, he joined the staff of the Lahey Clinic in Boston, Mass., and was chairman of the anesthesiology department. During his career, he performed anesthesia on such notables as actor Claude Raines, baseball great Ted Williams, Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg, British Prime Minister Anthony Eden, and claimed he “knocked out” Gene Tunney, world heavyweight boxing champion. After his retirement, he moved to Sanibel Island with his wife, Dorothy Winship Orr, who preceded him in death. Survivors include three sons, Robert B. Orr, Jr. ’65, 20 Roslyn Rd., Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236; Charles C. Orr II ’68; and Nelson W. Orr; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Capt. John T. Lowe ’33, U.S. Navy retired, of Saint Simons Island, Ga., died August 15, 2005. He was the former commanding officer at the Glynco Naval Air Station in New Brunswick. He finished his thirty-year career as a Navy carrier pilot as the last commander of the NAS Gynco when it closed in 1962. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1934, he distinguished himself in numerous actions providing air support in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, including Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and Japan homeland. He served on the carriers Enterprise, Yorktown, and Lexington, and survived substantial damage to these ships by the Japanese. After retiring from the Navy, he spent fifteen years working for the Sea Island Company handling its real estate transactions. Survivors include three sons, F. Rockwell Lowe, 1592 River Ridge, Williamsburg, Va. 23185, David Lowe of Modesto, Calif.; and John E. “Jet” Thompson of Baltimore, Md.; and four grandchildren, Alex Lowe, Lindsay Lowe, Austin Lowe, and Alexa Lowe.
Alvert Sherwood Arnold ’33 of Zephyrhills, Fla., died July 10, 2005. He moved to Zephyrhills in 1976 from Winchester, Va. He was a retired estimator in the lumber industry. He was a member of the Methodist church. Survivors include two daughters, Diane Daniel, Bowie, Md. and Susan A. Stutterer of Floyd, Va.; a sister, Mary V. Davins, Roanoke, Va.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.