Laurence "Larry" J. O'Rourke

Laurence J. (Larry) O'Rourke of Orwigsburg passed away on Wednesday evening at Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest. 
On February 24, 1938,he was born at the Locust Mountain Hospital,  Shenandoah Heights to the late Corporal Trooper Laurence and Margaret (Thomas) O'Rourke.
He was a 1955 graduate of West Mahanoy Township.  At age 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and achieved the rank of Air Controller - 3rd class.  Recently, on July 26th, he proudly carried the Navy flag at Knoebel's concert salute to veterans.

In three years, he completed a four year B.S. in Education degree at East Stroudsburg State College.   He taught school at Blue Mountain Area School District for 36 years.  For many years he enjoyed announcing various sporting events for WPPA and  T102.  After retiring, he was a part-time court clerk at the Schuylkill County courthouse.

In previous years, he enjoyed hunting with several friends.  He recently liked to travel and was able to visit most of the 50 states.   He visited  Germany,  with cousins.  He made two trips to Ireland and also one to Wales to meet his "Welsh" Thomas relatives. 

In 2015 he was inducted into the Pennsylvania  Sports Hall of Fame - Jerry Wolman Northern Anthracite Chapter.    He was a member of St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven, for 58 years.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart, Joyce Phillips, a daughter, Jennifer and her husband Carsten Brueninghaus of  Rockland,  Maine,  along with their twin sons Ryan and Sean.   He is also survived by a niece, Heather, wife of Chad Baker and a nephew, Sean, as well as  many cousins. 

In 2011,  he was preceded in death by his son Larry, a victim of ALS,  and in 2022 by his brother Thomas (Tim) O'Rourke and several loving aunts, uncles and cousins.  

There will be an evening viewing Sunday, August 25th from 5-7 PM at the Hamilton-Breiner Funeral Home, Inc., Orwigsburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, August 26th at 10:30 AM at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven. There will also be a viewing in the church chapel from 9:15 until 10:15 AM

Interment will follow in Annunciation BVM Cemetery , Shenandoah

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can  be made to the ALS - Mid Atlantic, 1015 Virginia Drive, Suite 110, Fort Washington, PA  19034-3100.
 

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