Orlando C Salinas, Jr

Orlando Cortez Salinas, Jr. passed peacefully on October 16, 2022, in Bountiful, Utah.  Known by OC, Daddy OC, Grandpa OC, Pops and Poppo, he is remembered as a loving, fun and welcoming father, grandfather, friend and neighbor.   

OC was born February 19, 1944 in Houston, Texas, the oldest of six children, to loving parents, Orlando Cortez Salinas Sr. and Rachel Lopez.  He graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1962.  He met his sweetheart, Delia Castillo, at the church both families attended, they married January 13, 1967. 

OC joined the United States Air Force at age 18 and served 21 years as a heavy equipment mechanic.  His family traveled with him on assignments to air bases including McConnell AFB (Wichita, KS), Dyess AFB (Abilene, TX), Keesler AFB (Biloxi, MS), Pope AFB (Fayetteville, NC), and Chanute AFB (Rantoul, IL).  The family especially loved their time in Europe, where OC served in Neu Ulm, Germany.  They remember visits to Paris, Holland, and East Germany, driving the auto bahn and exploring the countryside and villages in volks marches.  After retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1986, OC continued working as a civilian contractor at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX and as an instructor at Port Hueneme, CA.  

OC loved spending time with family and friends.  He enjoyed watching major league baseball and NFL football.  He taught and encouraged his family to bowl, gaining many close friends through bowling.  He coached Little League baseball, bringing his team to the 1979 USEUR world series.  OC and Dee made everyone welcome, opening their home to friends, neighbors and several ‘adopted children.’

OC is preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his brother, Gilbert Ray Salinas.  He is survived by siblings Theresa Ann Zucha (Charlie), David Salinas (Debbie), Daniel Salinas (Cindy) and Mary Lou Dean (J), his children Gilbert Ray Salinas and Deanna Lynn Bell (Billy), grandchildren Zachary Salinas (Rachel), Lindsey Salinas, Jake Salinas (Cheyenne), Belgarion Thrower and Carson Bell, and great grandchildren Cali, Ezra, Marshall and Orlando. 

The family expresses their deepest gratitude to the staff of South Davis Community Hospital, who compassionately cared for Orlando in the last months of his life.  

The family will schedule a celebration of life for later in the spring of 2023 to allow Orlando’s grandkids time to travel to Utah.