Rev. Dr. Donald B. Orander

Rev. Dr. Donald B. Orander, 86, passed away on May 5, 2017 in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born October 1, 1930 in Winston-Salem, N.C. An amazing husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Don enjoyed working on classic cars and had a passion for home projects and old sailboats. In the 1960s, he was on the frontlines in the civil rights and peace movements, subjects that remained important throughout his 40+ year ministry career. Don is survived by Mary Jean Lockwood Orander, his wife of 60 years and their three children Bryan, Rebecca, Stephen and five grandchildren. The family requests that contributions be made to Doctors Without Borders or GlobalMinistries.org. in lieu of flowers.

Don has always enjoyed music from marching in the band, to playing sax in the jazz band, to traveling as a member of the Catawba College vocal octet. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary in PA. Shortly after their wedding on June 20, 1956, Don and Mary Jean began their ministry in western PA, serving three small, rural congregations. In 1959, they moved back to Evansville, IN, Mary Jean’s hometown, where Don served as pastor of Christ Church UCC. In 1969, the now family of five moved to Nashville, TN where Don served Brookmeade Congregational and also participated in the CPE chaplaincy program at Vanderbilt University. The family moved next to Muncie, IN where Don became the pastor of Eden Church, UCC. He completed his full time ministry at Friedens UCC on the south side of Indianapolis. During this tenure he also received his Doctor of Divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary.

Visitation will be at Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ, 603 N New Jersey St, Indianapolis, IN 46202 on Friday, May 12 from 5:00-7:00pm and on Saturday, May 13 from 10:00am-10:45am. Memorial service at 11:00am.