John Mathew Orkish

February 24, 1938 - December 2, 2020

GySgt John Matthew Orkish, USMC (Ret.) age 82, of St. Clairsville OH, formerly of Fountain Valley, CA, passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2020, in Wheeling Hospital Wheeling, WV. He was born February 24, 1938 in Harmarville, PA, a son of the late John Martin and Helen Putorak Orkish. John was a 20 year veteran of U.S. Marine Corp, having served 3 tours in Vietnam and 2 atomic tests. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church St. Clairsville, OH, and was a life member of the American Legion and VFW. John was involved in all veteran organizations, while he was proud of his service and country. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by wife, Loretta McCoy Orkish; a son, Kenneth Orkish; step daughter, Rhonda Macy; a brother, Thomas Orkish and his longtime friend, BJ Carl. Survivors include his wife of 9 and a half years, Patricia Ryncarz Smigill-Orkish; a son, John M. (Michelle) Orkish of Rancho Santa Fe, CA; a daughter, Vicki (Rick) Joines of Cranberry Township, PA; three step children, Shelli (Jeff) Swaim of Paso Robles, CA, Joe (Stephanie) Smigill of Clarington, OH and Terry (Chuck) Brown of Barnesville, OH; a sister, Sylvia (Paul) McKee of Farmington Hills, MI; 3 grandchildren, 8 step grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren. Private services will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 or Helping Heroes Inc. 256 Jefferson Ave. Moundsville, WV 26041. Arrangements entrusted to Grisell Funeral Home Clarington, OH.