Obituary of Lillian Grace VanOrden

Lillian (Lil) VanOrden, age 90, of Troy, Michigan passed away peacefully on December 16, 2023, at Troy Beaumont Hospice in Troy, Michigan after two recent hospitalizations.

Lil was born December 23, 1932 in Detroit Michigan, a daughter of the late Fred and Mildred (Seybold) Tomlin. She grew up in Southfield, Michigan and was a graduate of Berkley High School.  Lil worked for both the Army Corp of Engineers and General Motors in various administrative roles. Lil was married to Kenneth W. VanOrden in June 1959 in Detroit, Michigan. Later in life she worked as an accounting office manager for a local non-profit and served in numerous volunteer positions with the Elks Club both in Michigan and Arkansas.

Lil was preceded in death in 1994 by her husband Kenneth W. VanOrden, a WWII army veteran and by her siblings, two brothers Charles ‘Bud’ (Elsie) Tomlin and Jack (Evelyn) Tomlin and one sister Helen (Joe) Reibel.

Lil loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed get-togethers with her lifelong friends Marge and Alice and their families. Lil enjoyed cards and games with her friends at the Oakland Park Towers apartments where she resided for over 23 years.  Lil was an avid reader, liked to visit Detroit’s casinos to play the slot/video machines and was an extraordinary bingo player – we’re not sure how she kept track of so many bingo cards.  Reading medical information and doing crossword puzzles were also interests.

Lil is survived by her children: Ken (Donna) VanOrden of Waldo, Wisconsin and Denise Fry of St. Clair Shores, Michigan. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Krystina (David Elie) Fry of Dillon, Colorado, Jacob (Veronica Coury) Fry of St. Clair Shores, Michigan and D. J. Bohlman of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

No memorial service will be held at this time. Memorials are suggested in Lil’s name to Troy Beaumont Hospice. The family would like to thank Troy Beaumont 5^th floor hospital staff and Beaumont Hospice for their kind and compassionate care.