Louis Edwin Orlando, 77, of Ponte Vedra, Florida passed away Sunday, December 8, 2019, at Oak View Rehab in Orange Park, Florida. His funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 13, 2019, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with full military honors. The Rev. Kenneth Kicklighter officiating. Mr. Orlando will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of the service.
Born September 5, 1942 in San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Orlando was the son of the late Anthony Orlando and Viola Ethel Windham Orlando. He had a Master’s degree and was a veteran of the United States Army, where he completed Army Airborne School, Army Ranger School and earned a Green Beret. He considered himself a “soldier” through and through and served in the Vietnam War, where he received the Bronze Star and the Silver Star. He served in the Tenth Special Forces Group and fielded the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV). He ended his career as a planner for Desert Shield and Desert Storm and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. After retiring, he worked as a Security Consultant. He was of the Catholic faith.
Mr. Orlando is survived by his wife, Sandra Ann Turlington Orlando of Ponte Vedra, Florida; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Jared and Jennifer Orlando of Nocatee, Florida and Derrick Orlando of Middleburg, Florida; one brother, Matthew Anthony Orlando of Texas; one sister and brother-in-law, Victoria and Eddie Reilly of Florida; and two grandchildren, Erin Orlando and Ethan Orlando.