My favorite example of religious architecture in Fort Wayne is the church building at the corner of McKinnie and Hessen Cassel, just south of McMilllen Park. As a child, my great-grandmother lived near McMilllen Park, and we passed by the church on our trips to Great-Grandma’s house. I always thought it looked a little bit like a sombrero, or perhaps where the Queen of Hearts would live in Alice in Wonderland. The architect, northeast-Indiana native, Orus Orville Eash, designed modern architecture in locations around the United States. Mr. Eash passed away over the weekend. Here is his obituary from the Sacramento Bee:
Orus Orville Eash
EASH, Orus Orville “Renowned” mid-western Architect, died on July 3, 2008 in Sacramento, California. Born in Middlebury, Indiana on December 12, 1915, Eash attended Goshen College (Indiana) and graduated from the University of Michigan. He practiced architecture in: Sacramento; Sarasota, FL; Fort Wayne, IN; Washington, DC; Chicago; and Traverse City, MI. His more than 500 building designs in 26 categories included many churches, commercial buildings and residences in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio Florida, Arizona and Sacramento. The designs pay homage to Danish-modernism. All have “simple elegance.” Eash served as Chairman of the Lake Michigan Regional Planning Commission and on the Fort Wayne Art Institute Board. Eash is survived by his loving wife, Ruth, his son John (Donna), several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many other nieces, nephews and friends. “His genius will be missed,” said his Tucson custom home-builder nephew L.J. McCreary. A private memorial service is pending. In lieu of flowers, please consider an “Orus Eash Memorial Gift,” to be directed to the Goshen College Art Department, Goshen, IN 46526. “We love you Grandpa Orus.” Published in the Sacramento Bee on 8/3/2008   posted by Angie Quinn