Former Shawnee resident Orlo Clayton Skinner died Friday in New Orleans, Louisiana at the age of 92.

He was born February 7, 1905, in Oklahoma Territory at what is now Kendrick. He was the second son of William Elisha and Bertha Susan Wall Skinner.

He became a professional musician at age 7, playing across Oklahoma with Bernice Brass Band at rodeos, fairs, community celebrations, conventions, political rallies and other events. He was a member of Yale Concert Band, director of the Davenport Concert Band and director of Davenport High School Band. He played trombone with several big bands and orchestras, including an orchestra which performed on radio station KVOO in the first nationwide broadcast of a musical performance. In 1966 he was honored by the American Federation of Musicians for more than 50 years of participation.

In 1933 he was commissioned to build a church orchestra and choir in Seminole and remained there until 1935 when he moved his family to Ardmore and served as director of the Federal Music Project there for the U.S. Treasury Department.

In March 1938, the department sent him to Oklahoma City to collaborate in the establishing of the Oklahoma Symphony. He remained as manager until 1954.

In addition to his music profession, Skinner joined the staff of Carter Oil Company in 1924 as accountant and assistant district clerk in charge of oil field equipment and materials. He was stationed at Cromwell. He later worked for several businesses including Skelly Oil and Oklahoma Natural Gas.

He also was credit manager for Wylie-Stewart Machinery Company in Oklahoma City, loan officer for Liberty National Bank and for American National Bank of Midwest City. He retired in 1974. He had lived in Shawnee briefly in 1928 and from 1979 to 1995, when he moved to New Orleans.

Skinner married Onamae Hood on June 24, 1928, and she preceded him in death in 1993 after more than 66 years of marriage.

Surviving are two sons, Hubert Clayton Skinner, New Orleans, Louisiana; Stanley Jerome Skinner, Overland Park, Kansas; five granddaughters, Susan Ann Skinner, Hermitage, Tennessee; Sharon Lynn Skinner Burgess, Old Hickory, Tennessee; Kathryn Louise Skinner Juneau, New Orleans, Louisiana; Carrie Mae Skinner Haden, Dallas, Texas; Caryle Christine Skinner, San Antonio, Texas, and eight great-grandchildren.

Also preceding him in death were his brother, Chall Cullen Skinner, and two sisters, Edna Geneva Skinner Gray, and Ethel Madge Skinner Lewis.

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Roesch-Walker Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Rusty Williams officiating.

Burial will be at Osage Cemetery near Agra.

Published October 21, 1997.