Robert D. Orr, 86;Indiana Governor, U.S. Ambassador

Robert D. Orr, 86, who championed education reform as governor of Indiana in the 1980s and later served as U.S. ambassador to Singapore, died Wednesday at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis, said Mark Lubbers, former press secretary and longtime aide for the former governor. He said the cause of death was believed to be heart arrhythmia.

Orr, a Republican, served two terms as lieutenant governor before getting the top job in 1981. After serving two terms, he was named ambassador to Singapore. Orr graduated from Yale University in 1940, and attended Harvard Business School before enlisting in the Army in 1942. During World War II, Orr served in the Pacific Theater and was commissioned a major.