Young Orsburn

Young Madison Orsburn, 96, of North Little Rock died March 31, 2013. He was born at Okolona, Arkansas the son of Madison Monroe and Mattie Eleanor Young Orsburn. His employment spanned a period of 46 years, with 32 of those years with the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and 38 years devoted to the service for the handicapped. He retired from the Rehabilitation Services in 1981. Work with the Service began in 1950 as a counselor in the Forth Smith office. In 1955 he was promoted to supervisor of the 31 county Western Arkansas areas. In 1967 he was promoted to Administrator, Physical Restoration, of the Little Rock state office. He set up the operating procedures for the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services/Arkansas Kidney Disease Commission joint program to serve end-stage renal disease cases. As that program's first Administrator, coupled with his rehabilitation work, he served until his retirement in 1981. The kidney disease program was the first of its kind in the United States. Young graduated valedictorian from Okolona High School and received a BA degree from Henderson State Teacher's College, now Henderson State University at Arkadelphia, Arkansas. A MS degree in Education/Counselor Education was completed at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Advance courses in Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation were completed at New York University. Upon graduating from Separation-Classification School Adjutant General's Department, he was assigned by the U.S. Army as a WWII Counselor separating injured veterans from service. Other training included: Management in Rehabilitation, Oklahoma State University, Prosthetics-Orthotics, University of California, Los Angeles, and other training in the use of Medical Consultants in Rehabilitation. From 1945-1950 he was Assistant Chief of the Advisement & Guidance, and Occupational Rating Partner Veterans Administration, Little Rock. Prior to WWII he was Principal at Delight Public Schools, Superintendent of Central Nevada County Public Schools, followed by two years as an administrator with the War Relocation Authority relocating Japanese Americans who had been interned in the Jerome and Rowher Centers. It was his strong conviction that the displacement of the loyal Japanese Americans, during the WWII years, was an injustice unprecedented in the annals of our American history. In 1974, as a member of the National Institute of Rehabilitation Issues, the lead study group for the Rehabilitation Services Administrations, he dealt with problems of rehabilitating the severally handicapped. In 1975, he was Chairman of the Prime Study Group that approached the influence of Consumer Involvement in Rehabilitation. In 1976, as National Chairman of the Institute, he led studies on the Homebound Severely Handicapped, Utilization of Institute Publications, and the Role of Facilities in Rehabilitation. All of these studies were published and made available to state rehabilitation programs. Orsburn completed a national survey on end-stage renal disease clients for the 50 state Rehabilitation Administrator's Council, and served as the Arkansas representative to the Regional Advisory Council, Texas Institute of Rehabilitation and Research, Houston, Texas. He was president, Region VI, National Rehabilitation Association, and a life member of that organization as well as the Arkansas chapter. He belonged to the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association; was secretary, Arkansas Retired Teachers Housing, Inc., vice president of the board of the Museum of Automobiles, Petit Jean Mountain. Other affiliations included: president, Mid-America Old Time Car Club, the Fort Smith Antique Car Club, and the Arkansas Antique Car Club, Little Rock. The 2009 annual car show at the Museum of Automobiles honored Young for his dedication and service to the Mid-America Club. He was a past vice president of the Fort Smith Exchange Club, a member of Belle Point Lodge, Fort Smith and a 32nd degree mason of the Western Arkansas Scottish Rite for over 58 years. His name and career summary are entered as a charter honoree in the special edition of the National Distinguished Registry, Medical and Vocational Rehabilitation, for service to the handicapped. He was the recipient of the prestigious Voyle Scurlock award, the top Southwest Region honor for outstanding leadership in service to the handicapped. As a member of Lakewood United Methodist Church, North Little Rock, Ark., he served on the administrative board, the board of trustees, treasure, and as president and teacher of the George Martin Sunday School Class. Many years were spent on other Methodist church boards and as Adult School Superintendent, Chairman of church board, scoutmaster, and president of the Men's Club, Fort Smith Methodist. He was a certified Lay speaker. Love of family, friends, and his church were paramount in his life. Among his hobbies, the restoration of antique automobiles was his favorite. To restore an old automobile to its original state was a joy to him. He was a member of the original group that set up a non-profit unit to incorporate and establish The Museum of Automobiles the successor to the Winthrop Rockefeller Museum atop Petit Jean Mountain. Young's wonderful wife, Lucille, of 67 years preceded him in death. He is survived by four daughters: Patricia Reinhardt, (Nelson, deceased), Cecillia Gelzine (Joe) both of Little Rock, Ellen Brown (Jim) of North Little Rock, Martha Best (Rob) of Sherwood; eight grandchildren: Charlotte Downs, Nicole Held (Brad), Angela Gelzine Staerk (Robert), Craig Reinhardt, Jennifer Morrison (Mike), Stephanie Bearden (Tim), Lisa Raney, Kyle Brown and step-children, Leigh Austin (Aaron), Beau Best (Franziska), James Brown (Rosa), Debbie Fahlsing (David); 14 great-grandchildren: Michaela, Michael, Shelby, and Bradshaw Held, Zachary and Emily Staerk, Madison Bearden, Samantha Morrison, Franky and Chirstina Brown, Natalie and Heather Smith, Noah Best, and Nate Austin. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday April 4th, 2013 in the sanctuary of Lakewood United Methodist Church with Rev. Richard Lancaster officiating under the direction of Griffin Leggett-Rest Hills Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Griffin Leggett-Rest Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Griffin Leggett-Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road, North Little Rock( 501) 835-3515. Memorials to Lakewood United Methodist Church, North Little Rock, 1922 Topf Road, North Little Rock, Ark. 72116 or Museum of Automobiles, 8 Jones Lane, Petit Jean Mountain, Morrilton, Ark. 72110. The online obituary, guestbook, and memorial tribute are available at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.