Orville R. Harrold,73, of 7 Birchwood Rd., President of the Providence & Worcester Railroad , died suddenly Tuesday, Nov. 22 at his home.
He leaves five sons, a sister , and 14 grandchildren. He was born in Brooklyn, New York the son of Orville J. and Gladys (James) Harrold.
He was a member of the Brookfield Congregational Church, Past President and current Treasurer of the Kiwanis Club of Worcester which he was a member of for 30 years, Eastern General Managers Assoc., Locomotive Officers Assoc., and the Worcester Lodge of Masons AF & AM. and Chairman of Board of the Greater Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer and board member of the Foothills Theater. He enjoyed swimming, reading, bike riding and gardening.
He graduated from Brooklyn Tech High School and The Pratt Institute in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering both in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. Harrold then went to work for two years at Westinghouse Air Brake Co. as a test engineer. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Captain from 1956-60.
Over the next 13 years, he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad (Penn Central) and rose to assistant regional mechanical superintendent of the metropolitan region.
He joined the P & W Railroad in 1973 as its chief engineer. He was named general manager in 1974 and a director in 1978. He became president in 1980.
The funeral will be held Monday Nov. 28 in the Brookfield Congregational Church, 10 Lincoln Street, Brookfield at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, West Brookfield. Calling hours will be from 3:00-7:00 PM Sunday in the J. HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 MAPLE TERR., SPENCER. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Kiwanis club of Worcester, 75 Hammond Street, Worcester, MA 01610 or to the Brookfield Congregational Church, P.O. Box 457, Brookfield, MA 01506