Daniel Bennett Orndorff

Dan Orndorff passed away from the infirmities of age on Sep 30, 2026. He was born November 16, 1934, in Waterville, New York, to Harvey Norton Orendorff and Margaret Emergene (nee:Kelly) Orndorff. Although his father's last name is spelled Or"e"ndorff, Dan's birth certificate was incorrect and his last name was spelled without the "e". When he joined the US Air Force, he was informed his legal name, henceforth, would be without the "e".

He was preceded in death by his wife Anna "Darlene" (nee: Horton) Orndorff, in 2018. They were married on April 3, 1955, in Lebo, Kansas. They were married 63 years.

Dan was 18 years-old when he joined the Air Force in 1953. He was trained to load bombs onto B-52 airplanes. He was stationed at Forbes AFB, Topeka, Kansas (where he met Darlene), and Upper Heyford, England. He was honorably discharged in 1957.

He moved his family to Topeka, where he drove semi-trucks for Rock Island Motor Transit and went to school in the evenings to earn an associate's degree, in accounting, from the Clark School of Business. He completed his career as a tax auditor for the State of Kansas, and retired in 1996. 

Dan and Darlene were charter members of the University United Methodist Church. They were active in the church community until health concerns prevented their attendance. Dan spent many hours, during his retirement, volunteering at the church and trouble-shooting maintenance issues with the church facility.

He was also preceded in death by four older siblings:

Virginia O. "Winnie" (nee: Orendorff) Kenyon

Paul Norton "Pete" Orendorff

Harvey Gaylord Orendorff

Gordon "Jasper" Orendorff

He is survived by four children:

Danette Lynn (nee: Orndorff) Eis

Darla Gail Orndorff (h- Thomas Schlegel)

Derek Tracy Orndorff (w- Kristina [nee-Kessinger]) Orndorff

Darrin Lee Orndorff (w-Karen [nee- Rolf]) Orndorff

Ten grandchildren

Hannah Jolene (nee: Eis) Litwiller

Tedra Irene (nee: Eis) Hett

Louisa Mae Schlegel

Nickolaus Thomas Schlegel

Daniel Tracy Orndorff

Olivia Rose Orndorff

Caroline Elizabeth (nee: Orndorff) Banuelos

Gabriel Virgil Orndorff

Jonah Bennett Orndorff

Keely Shea (nee: Orndorff) Lauzon

Five great-grandchildren

Jubilee Litwiller

Shiloh Litwiller

Camillo Banuelos

Felix Banuelos 

Henry Schlegel

Memorial contributions can be made in Daniel's honor to the University United Methodist Church.

Cremation is planned, with a Celebration of Life on October 26, 2026,  at 11:00 A.M. at the University United Methodist Church, 1621 SW College Avenue, Topeka, Kansas, 66604.