John Orlando Sr

John Charles Orlando, Sr., 83, resident of Old Town, FL, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, June 8, 2026. He was born in Baltimore, MD, to Ignatius and Lucille Orlando (Clingenpeel), the eldest of 5 children (Eugene, Joseph, Nina, and Phillip). He served in the U.S. Army from 1960-1966. After his honorable discharge from the Army, worked as a machinist at Westinghouse near Philadelphia and Quality Control Specialist at Boeing. In 1973 John moved with his family to Elkton, MD. He established a youth baseball and flag football league. His hospitality was also on constant display, as family and friends would gather at his house on Sundays for pasta, great conversation, card games, and lots of laughs. John relocated to Orlando, FL in 1983, and married Eleanora (McElroy) in 1986. After they relocated to Old Town, John would go on to serve and retire as Department of Corrections Officer in 2005. John loved spending time with his family and playing Christian songs on his guitar. He loved spaghetti and meatballs and perfected the family sauce that was handed down from Sicily where his paternal grandparents were from (a small town called Caronia). John had a warm, loving spirit, a great sense of humor, and an infectious laugh. His greatest love was his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. By God’s grace alone, John received the free gift of eternal life in 1986 by trusting in Christ alone for salvation (John 3:16, Eph 2:8-10). He would go on to serve the Lord as a music director and a deacon in the Southern Baptist churches he was a member of. He also started a ministry called Fishers of Men Ministries, and ministered in nursing homes, a clown ministry, and also served on missionary trips to Romania to share the gospel. Most recently he was a member at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Bell, FL. To all of this, John would often say, “I’m just an ole’ sinner, saved by grace.” John is survived by his wife of 40 years, Eleanora; biological children: John C. Orlando, Jr. (wife Ursula) and Donna Harding of Coatesville, PA; 3 step-children all in Florida: Scott Clough (wife Mary), Karrie Navigato (husband Don), and Deborah Huthmacher; eleven grandchildren: Shana, Michael, Scott, Dawn, Tammy, Nicholas, Matthew, Joey, Douglas, Anthony, and Christopher; nieces Jaimie Ames and Anita Cline, and numerous great-grandchildren. A Memorial service will be held at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church, 4200 NW County Road 340, Bell, FL, on Monday, June 29, 2026 at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Our Life Mission: https://ourlifemission.org "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Arrangements have been placed under the care of Rick Gooding Funeral Home Cross City Chapel, with locations in Cross City 352-498-5400 and Chiefland 352-493-0050. Please sign the online guest book at rickgoodingfuneralhomes.com

John Orlando Sr

October 17, 1942 - June 8, 2026