Orville S DeLay, 93, of Holton, died Saturday, August 15, 2015 at the Holton Community Hospital.
 
He was born July 10, 1922 near Odessa, MO, the son of James and Bertie Pallette
DeLay.  He graduated from Odessa High School in 1939 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942.  Orville was engaged in 50 combat missions in the Mediterranean Theatre during World War II as a  flight engineer and top turret gunner on a B-17 aircraft.  He was awarded numerous medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.
 
Orville was a well known carpenter in the Holton and surrounding areas for many years.
 
He was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holton, until it closed, and later was a member of the First United Methodist Church.  He was also a member of Holton Memorial Post No. 1367 of the V.F.W. and Holton Masonic Lodge No. 42, A.F.&A.M.
 
He married Martha May Mark on July 10, 1949 in Lexington, MO.  She survives.
 
Orville was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Nellie Irene Campbell and Alice J. Hoover.
 
Other survivors include two sons, Andy J. DeLay and wife Sherry, Abilene, and Ray O DeLay and wife Ronda, Holton; and five grandchildren, Ashley DeLay, Emily Hernandez, Rachel Haught, Jackson DeLay and Paige DeLay.
 
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19th at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton.  Burial with military honors will follow in the Holton Cemetery.  Orville will lie in state until service time at the funeral home where family and friends will meet from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday.  Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church or Holton Memorial Post No. 1367 of the V.F.W., and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1034, Holton, 66436.  On-line condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuneralhome.com