Elsie Davis Orr

Mrs. Elsie Davis Champe Orr passed away at her residence in Jonesborough, Tennessee, on September 24, 2017, after a prolonged illness. Elsie was born 12/21/1932, in Manhattan, NY. She was predeceased by her son, Stephen Orr, of Lignum, VA, in 2010, and is survived by her husband of 67 years, Jerry, her daughter, Katherine Robertson, also of Jonesborough, and her three granddaughters, Suzanne, in Burlington, MA, and McKenna and Kendyl Robertson in Jonesborough. She also leaves behind her sister Mary Jo Champe of Richmond, VA, her sister Laura Champe Mitchell of Arlington, VA, and her daughter-in-law, Renee? Orr of Lignum, VA. After attending many schools in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Shianghai, China, Elsie settled down to attend Miami Edison High School and graduate with honors in 1950. She attended the University of Miami, and received a BS in math and physics, also with honors, in 1954. She joined North American Aviation, Inc., and was selected for special employee recognition in 1957 for her calculations of powered interplanetary flight trajectories. She worked with the initial, huge, computer systems, and wound up helping in the design of digital, analog, and hybrid computers for special applications. Her professional career was interrupted with a two-year sojourn with the family in Bangkok, Thailand, where Stephen graduated from high school, and was cut short by progressive eye disease (Usher?s Syndrome) that left her unable to continue in 1983. Elsie was a long-time breeder and handler of dogs, and was active in the Papillon Club of America, and in local breed and all-breed clubs where she held many offices. She continued to raise and show her Papillons until she was no longer able to distinguish the dogs in the ring. After that, she enjoyed the companionship and assistance of a Guiding Eye service dog until her failing health limited her mobility. Elsie?s intellect and determination to make the best of her circumstances will be sorely missed. Remembrances should be directed to the Metropolitan Area Papillon Club of Washington DC, Inc., 6510 Dearest Lane, Sykesville, MD 20676, which awarded her a lifetime membership.