Howatt Orville Underhill

Divisions Served: “E”

Medals & Honours: Long Service Medal, Bronze Star and Clasp

Pillar Location: Pillar X, Row 11, Column F

Story: 

Howatt Orville (Orv) Underhill was born in Wapella, Saskatchewan, on September 9, 1934, to Percy and Iris Underhill. While they were living in Wapella, Percy and Iris welcomed their second son Lyle to the family. When Orville was 12 he and his family moved to Moosomin, Saskatchewan where the family farmed. Orville grew up farming and trapping in the area and worked at the local school house. Upon graduation from Moosomin High School, Orville continued working on the family farm and started to teach grade 1 through 9 at the local one room school house just down the road. He then decided to apply to the Air Force and the RCMP, deciding to go with the first to respond.
Orville applied to the RCMP and was sworn in on February 1, 1956 in Regina, Saskatchewan. Orville started his 9 months of training at Depot Division in Regina with “B Troop” which at that time included the 3 month equine training for all members. This is a time when the RCMP was still a mounted police force in some areas of the country and was an integral part of training. The equine portion was one area that came easier to Orville with all his time on the farm working with horses, even having the task of breaking a horse or two in his day prior to training. Orville had many fond memories of Depot with his troop mates, the good, the tough and the valuable training that would serve him over his career.
Orville’s first posting out of Depot was to Vancouver Sub-Division in October of 1956. It was a long trek by train with his trunk of uniform and kit. It was there in October that Orville first met Ingrid Carlson. The two started dating in November of 1956 and were engaged the next year. Orville was transferred to Kitimat, BC, in 1957 and Terrace, BC shortly after that. On February 14, 1959 Orville and Ingrid were married in Vancouver, BC, and had a beautiful Red Serge wedding with family and friends sharing in their special occasion. Orville was then transferred to Burnaby upon their marriage. Orville and Ingrid welcomed their first child, Christina, to the family in 1960. They remained in Burnaby for the next few years before Orville received his next transfer to Burns Lake, BC, in 1962.
Orville went to Burns Lake a couple weeks ahead of his family and took the only house that was available for rent. It was the winter with record setting cold and snow for the entire Province. The rental house had no insulation and heating from the centre of the house through a vent which didn’t reach very far. Ingrid arrived with Christina and her mother to a tough northern winter. Ingrid often worked as a “matron” for the female prisoners at the local Detachment and also taught in the area. Orville was really enjoying the area with the hunting, fishing, curling and many other adventures of the north. Orville and Ingrid welcomed their first son, Brian, in Burns Lake in 1963. Burns Lake had its challenges for Orville, Ingrid and family but they also left there with great friendships and unforgettable experiences.
In 1966 Orville was transferred to the one-man Detachment of Falkland, BC, in the north Okanagan. The family moved into their house (quarters) which was attached to the office. This one-man post saw Ingrid fill in as the “second man” to help Orville with tasks such as answering the radio or phone, calling for backup and ambulance, preparing meals for the prisoners or acting as “matron” for the female prisoners. Ingrid also helped with administration work and helping Orville when senior management or dignitaries arrived. Police work was challenging enough but being the only police officer around came with many challenges like dealing with a violent domestic, attending a serious or fatal collision or dealing with a disaster type event. Orville did find time to enjoy the area while hunting, fishing or attending community events. He also spearheaded and helped build the 2 sheet curling club that is still in use today. Orville and Ingrid welcomed their second son, Eric, who was born in the Vernon Hospital in 1966.
In 1967 Orville was transferred to Sechelt where he was promoted to Corporal in charge of the seven-man Detachment. They were again in quarters where Ingrid once again was called to duty, helping out with prisoner meals, matron duties and entertaining visiting RCMP personnel. Orville and Ingrid welcomed their third son, Darin, in Sechelt in 1971. This sea-side community saw more adventures with fishing on the ocean and living the coastal life. Later that year Orville was transferred to Merritt, BC, where he was promoted to Sergeant in the larger Detachment.
In August of 1974 the family was on the move when Orville was laterally transferred to Chilliwack. While in Chilliwack Orville was promoted to Staff-Sergeant and worked as the Operations NCO for many years, finishing as the Administration NCO with some acting Officer In Charge duties as well. This time in Chilliwack allowed Ingrid time to finish her Bachelor of Education Degree at SFU and teach. Orville was very involved in the community and had a great working relationship with all his community partners, the media and his RCMP partners through District and Division Headquarters. While in Chilliwack he received his RCMP Long Service Medal, Bronze Clasp and Bronze Star. Orville retired as Staff-Sergeant on June 30, 1990 after a long and distinguished career.
He was also a big part of the community sports where he was a coach for minor baseball, an umpire for baseball through the area and played as a catcher for a fast ball team. Orville was also very involved in curling as a member of the Chilliwack Curling Club. He helped coach juniors, curled in men’s curling, Police Curling and loved to help out at the club. One of his greatest achievements curling was playing with his three farmer friends who were then fondly called the “3 farmers and a cop” team, who won many bonspiels, men’s nights and seniors, but most importantly made friends that would last a lifetime. After retirement he continued with his sports through playing, coaching and umpiring. He kept busy helping out with some big events like the BC Summer games as head of security and other large community events.
Orville and Ingrid retired in their home in Chilliwack as they had made so many great friends in the community. They spent some amazing times travelling in their motor home up to the Yukon, across Canada to Newfoundland and Labrador and down through the United States. They also met up with their kids and their families on some annual Underhill camping trips. Orville was able to see his son Darin graduate from “Depot” and presented him with his badge at the swearing in ceremony on June 18, 2001. Orville and Ingrid celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on February 14, 2018. Only a month later Orville lost his battle with cancer, passing away on March 12, 2018.
Orville always spoke fondly of his time with the RCMP, his adventures with Ingrid and the kids and all the amazing people he met along the way. He was a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and Mountie!