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Obituary for Diane B Orton
Diane B. Orton passed away on November 22, 2017 at her Hood River home surrounded by family. She was born on September 23, 1932 and was 85 years of age at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
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Life Story for Diane B Orton
Diane B. Orton died peacefully at her home in Hood River, Oregon on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 with family around her, and Hospice attending. She was born in 1932 in Rahway, New Jersey to parents Gladys Fellows and Dr. Alexander Breslow. Her older brother, Dr. Ronald Breslow, a professor of chemistry at Columbia University, predeceased her by one month.After graduating from Rahway High School, Diane Joy matriculated first to Bradford Junior College and then to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She married William Dickson Cunningham II, also of Rahway, in1955 and settled in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, where they raised two children. As a lifelong advocate for children, Diane began a career teaching, both in New Jersey and in Italy, while her husband was stationed there. They divorced in 1963.
Diane loved to sing and joined the Summit Chorale where she later met her husband of fifty-two years, Mark DeForest Orton, Jr., a choral conductor. They moved to Long Island, New York where she had three more children. Diane taught at a school for the autistic, and also used her literary skills working for local newspapers, with an extensive tenure at The Village Times in Setauket. She was an excellent writer and proof reader, helping steer the paper to successful weekly production for many years. She was awarded The Village Times’ Woman of the Year for her community contributions to the arts. She sang faithfully in the Setauket Presbyterian Church Choir for nearly forty years, where her husband was musical director.
Diane was known for her warmth, humor, and brilliant literary mind. She played Scrabble daily, wore out her library card, and was an undefeated champion on a 1960’s TV game show called Word For Word that required contestants to build words from the letters of other words. She also loved animals and had a weakness for any stray in need of a good meal. She went to the ocean whenever she could, and loved to travel with family.
Three years ago, Diane and Mark moved to Hood River, Oregon, so they could be nearer to more family. Their home is surrounded by orchards, and set between the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams. It was here that she graced a short battle with ovarian cancer.
Her devotion as a mother and champion of children’s rights defined Diane’s life. Many of her children’s friends considered her their second mother. Diane is survived by her husband, five children: Melissa Joy Morris, William Dickson Cunningham III, Mark DeForest Orton III, Alexandra Fellows Petros, and Michael Christopher Orton; a step-daughter: Jenifer Calandri; eight grandchildren: Rebecca Caprara, Robert Southworth, Max Orton, Samuel Cunningham, Margaret Orton, Anthony Petros, Michael Orton, and Rocciano Petros; two step-granddaughters: Shawnessy and Brandy Calandri; and two great-grandchildren: Aquinna and Francesca Caprara.
Memorial plans are private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders at: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/tribute.cfm
