Orin E. Marvel passed from this life into the loving arms of his Heavenly Father at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital. His devoted wife of eight years, Mary, was at his side.
Orin was born in White Plains, New York, and lived in Salinas for 20 years. In addition to his wife, Mary, Orin is survived by two sons, Terry and Robby and two daughters, Kelly and Dawn, from a previous marriage to Joann. He is also survived by two step-sons, Joseph and James from Orin's second marriage to Judith, and two step-sons, Eugene and Nelson from his marriage to Mary. He had eight grandchildren and 4 step-grandchildren.
Orin was predeceased by both Joann and Judith.
Orin was a leading electrical engineer in the early years of the space program. He earned his first degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech and Master's Degrees from Georgia Tech in 1965 and from California Polytechnic University in Pomona in 1984. In 1983 Orin was selected as a Congressional Fellow by the IEEE as served for a year as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Jeremiah Benton. He served in the U. S. Army for three years during which time he developed the first computer to control an FPA-16 Track Radar. In 1970 he earned a Ph.D. in 1970 from the University of Illinois. Orin was subsequently employed for 15 years by Honeywell where he developed computer systems for the ATS satellite, the Viking Lander, and the Space Shuttle Engine Control system. He was engaged by Hughes Aircraft Company as a Chief Scientist who led a team for developing the Extended Air Defense Test Bed in 1985. Later he became a Senior Principal Scientist at NATO's SHAPE Technical Center at the Hague, Netherlands.
In between his work on technical and scientific achievements in the private and public sector, Orin taught part-time at several leading universities and concluded his long and distinguished career at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, retiring in 2010 as a Professor in the GSOIS/Department of Systems Engineering after 18 years with NPS.
Orin also volunteered for many community projects such as: Meals on Wheels, Active Seniors, Inc. Center, Ombudsman for Alliance on Aging, Cooked meals for the homeless at the First Methodist Church, and was the Secretary/Treasurer for the Salinas chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). Orin, with Mary, were active members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salinas. - See more at: http://www.struveandlaporte.com/obituary/Orin-Edward-Marvel/Salinas-CA/1504729#sthash.4cYJOjWL.dpuf
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Events
Memorial Details:
2:30pm
May 09, 2015
St. Paul's Church, 1071 Pajaro, Salinas
Details: A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Church, 1071 Pajaro St., Salinas, on Saturday, May 9th at 2:30 pm, followed by a reception at the church. Donations may be made in Orin's memory to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Salinas. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues.
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