Matthew Joshua “M.J.” Girlinghouse, 92, of Orange, passed away on April 3, 2022, at Sabine Place in Orange.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Mauriceville. Officiating will be Pastor Kevin Brown. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in Orange.

Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, at First Baptist Church in Mauriceville.

Born in Jena, Louisiana, on December 2, 1929, he was the son of Rodney C. Girlinghouse and Bertha Barron Girlinghouse. M.J. loved to cook and bake, he’d make the family’s favorite dish, banana pudding, for every family function. He retired as Fire Chief for the City of Orange Fire Department. M.J. enjoyed spending his free time in the outdoors hunting and fishing. He loved his family more than anything and loved being a Poppa to his grandkids. He will be deeply missed by everyone.

He was preceded in death by parents, Rodney and Bertha Barron; first wife, Cynthia Lavender Girlinghouse; second wife, Mary Ann McKay Girlinghouse; sons, Rodney Gordon Girlinghouse, Johnny Girlinghouse, and Brewer McKay; siblings, Elsie Young, Bernice Gibson, Joann Putnam, Marie Carner, R.C. Girlinghouse, John Girlinghouse; and granddaughter, Lavender Marie Fernandez.

He is survived by daughter, Lynn Marie Fernandez of Jacksonville, Florida, Ginger Moore and Des of Garison, Texas; son, E.J. McKay and Risa of Mauriceville; daughter-in-law, Charlotte Girlinghouse; fifteen grandchildren, as well as numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers will be Pate Jones, Jacob Bergeron, Cade McKay, Brad Ford, Mike Baker, and Chad Jenkins. Honorary pallbearers are David Frenzel and the Orange Fire Department.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church in Mauriceville or the Orange Fire Department.