Orie Cocklin Grove, 92

November 14, 2025

Orie Cocklin Grove was born to Orie and Fannie Grove in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on November 9, 1933. He died at the age of 92 at Landis Homes in Lancaster on November 14, 2025.

Orie graduated from Hershey High School and Hershey Junior College. He also attended the University of Miami and then graduated from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 1956. He worked for DuPont in Charleston, WV, for two years. He then volunteered in the US Army’s Chemical Corp, developing chemical munitions at the Edgewood Arsenal and Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. After his military experience, Orie worked at Allied Chemical in Philadelphia, in the engineering department of their roofing plant. During that time, he took evening classes at Philadelphia College of Bible and then spent three semesters at Faith Theological Seminary.

Orie married Kathryn Esbenshade in 1961, and the couple moved to Lancaster where Orie worked for Hamilton Watch until the late 1960’s. During this time, his son Tim was born. Orie worked a bit for Penn Chem and then spent a 27-year run at Dart Container in Leola, from 1973 to 1999 when he retired from the production engineering department.

A member of Grace Baptist Church, avid traveler and gardener, Orie most loved spending time with friends and family. He cared for his wife Kathy for 6 years through her illness with Alzheimer’s before her passing in 2015. After Kathy’s passing, Orie met and married Connie Stauffer, a vivacious, fun-loving, and compassionate partner with whom he enjoyed his twilight years, spending time with friends, playing games, traveling and volunteering at Landis Homes. He lived a life of faithfulness to his family and to God.

Orie is predeceased by his parents, siblings Alma, Evan and Miriam, and his wife Kathy. He is survived by wife Connie, son Tim, and loving nieces and nephews. A memorial service will take place at Landis Homes’ West Bethany Chapel on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 11am. Private interment. Memorial gifts may be given to Lancaster Bible College, where Orie was a strong supporter and member of the Board of Trustees.