1926 – 2014

WILTON — Orlando Richard “Shine” Jordan, 88, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 4, peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends.

Born in Locke Mills on Jan. 20, 1926, to Orlando and Gladys Jordan, he was the second of five children. After graduating from Gould Academy, Class of 1943, in Bethel, he proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in pilot training.

Orlando later moved to Wilton as a truck driver for Holt Trucking, where he met his wife of 67 years, Nathalie Swett. After leaving Holt Trucking, he worked at Norwock Shoe as a piece worker, later becoming the finishing room supervisor for G.H. Bass and Co. He retired from G.H. Bass in 1988, as an industrial engineer.

Orlando served the Wilton community as selectman for the town. He was also a member of the board of town property assessment, and he volunteered for the Wilton Fire Department and the Wilton food pantry. As an active member of the United Methodist Church, he was on the administrative board and was a Sunday school teacher, a youth fellowship leader and a choir member with his wife, Nathalie.

He and his wife enjoyed square dancing and he was an avid fly fisherman, hunter and camper. Gardening and music — particularly the mandolin — were also interests Orlando enjoyed. He was a member of the American Legion, past president of Wilton Fish and Game, past president of the North Jay Sporting Club and instructor of NRA Hunter Safety and Young Riflemen.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nathalie; his two children: a son, Michael and his wife, Claudette, of Auburn and a daughter, Bonnie Meunier of Wilton; six grandchildren, Carrie Meunier, Amy Roberts, Adam Jordan and his companion, Michelle, Tammy Chamberland, Amy Nadeau and her husband, Paul, and Melissa Lebrun and her husband, Shawn; 10 great-grandchildren, Eli, Jack, Cleo, Brayden, Riley, Paul, Colby, Paige, Tommy and Dakota; a brother, Arnold and his wife, Pearl; a sister, Beatrice Buck; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Jordan; and brothers-in-law, Glendon, Lauriston and Durwood Swett and his wife, Maxine.

He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Reynold; a sister, Bernice Brown and her husband, Elwin “Jr.” Brown; sisters-in-law, Shereen Swett and Gladys Swett; and a brother-in-law, Raymond Buck.

Condolences, memories, photos and a memorial video may be shared on Shine’s memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.