Orvelt Thomas Eaton Jr.

Today we celebrate the life of Orvelt Thomas Eaton, Jr. Born May 11, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo, to the union of Orvelt Thomas Eaton Sr. and Lowy Mae (Hardrick) Eaton Young. He was educated in the Kansas City, Missouri school system and graduated in 1971 from Lincoln Senior High School (Lincoln College Preparatory Academy). He went on to further his educational pursuit by attending Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky. He graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. While attending Kentucky State University he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Orvelt moved to Houston, Texas after graduation and was employed by several businesses in the area. He later returned to Kansas City, Missouri and was employed by AT&T. In 2005, he and his mother moved to Atlanta, Georgia to be closer to his sister. He was employed by The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Enterprise Car Rental.

Orvelt accepted Christ at an early age. He attended Victory for the World Church, Decatur, Georgia. He was an enthusiastic card player and enjoyed a good game and the spirit of fun and friendship that came with it. “You need to bid if you want to see the kitty! A spade is a spade, no matter the game.” Those were just a few of his rules of the road. He loved spending time with family and friends during the holidays (especially thanksgiving and Christmas) and going on the annual “Family and Friends Cruises”. Orvelt was very witty, he was smart, he was kind and he was funny.

Orvelt left this earth on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. He went home to be with his Heavenly Father. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Bobby L. Hardick Sr.

He is survived by Mandy Fridge, sister; Sonya Williams and Tammy Hardrick McNeal, nieces; Derek Oliver, Kevin Oliver (Leslie), Bobby Hardrick Jr (Connie) and Brian Hardrick (Ella), nephews; great-nieces, great-nephews; Donald Brown, a lifelong family friend of 60 years and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be Saturday, December 20, 2025 from 1-2 PM at Park Lawn Funeral Home. Funeral will be held Saturday at 2 PM at the funeral home, with interment following in Memorial Park Cemetery.