Barry Orr

ORR, BROWN, KINSEY

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 4/8/2021 at 06:54:02

4 August 1966 - The Tipton Conservative

Double funeral services for 2 16-year old West Branch boys, Barry Wayne Orr and Christopher Charles Kerr, who died Friday afternoon in a 2-car accident on old Highway 1, 2 miles west of West Branch, were held Monday at the Hoover high school gym. The Rev. William Thalacker of the Bethany Lutheran church and the Rev. Roger Tappmeyer of the Methodist church officiated.

The boys' car, driven by Kerr, collided with an oncoming auto containing an Iowa City woman and her 4 small children, all of whom were injured.

Patrolman Daniel Jahnke, Iowa City, said the West Branch car was struck broadside after it went out of control on wet pavement and skidded sideways into the path of the Stoner auto. The Kerr car was nearly cut in two by the force of the accident.

The Orr youth was pronounced dead at the scene and Kerr died 4 hours later at University hospitals, Iowa City. Injured in the accident was Mrs. Gerald Stoner, Teresa, Julie, Elizabeth and Richard, who were admitted to Mercy hospital in Iowa City.

The deaths were the third and fourth on Johnson county roads in 3 days and brought the year's total to 9.

Both boys would have been juniors at West Branch high school this fall.

Barry Orr was born July 26, 1960, at Des Moines, the son of Delbert and Betty Brown Orr. The family moved to West Branch in the early 1950's.

He had been president of his sophomore class and was a member of the high school baseball team.

Surviving are his parents; one brother, Bruce at home; a sister Sandra at home; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Brown of West Branch and Mrs. Mabel Orr of Des Moines and a great-grandmother, Mrs. Ethel Kinsey of West Branch.