His WW I draft registration card, filed 5 June 1917, records Orvil Meadows, age 28, residence 126 Congress E., Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, born 27 Mar 1889 in Salt Lick, Kentucky, occupation metal polisher, employer Monarch Building Supply, Detroit, Michigan, married supporting a wife.

The database of headstone applications for military veterans records an application for a flat bronze marker, filed 17 July 1956 by Mrs. Esther E. Meadows, 1302 Delaware, Detroit, Michigan, for Orvillle Meadows, born 27 Mar 1889, died 29 June 1956, enlisted 12 Dec 1917, honorable discharge on 7 Feb 1919, service as a private in Army Co. A., Ordinance Dept, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, burial at White Chapel Memorial Cemetery, 621 E. Long Lake Rd, Birmingham, Oakland Co., Michigan. (The typed application spells his name as Orville, but a red annotation apparently added during processing changes it to Orvil, presumably because that was the name he served under.)

1930 census of Wayne Co., Michigan, Detroit ward 21, enumerated 14 April, lists on p. 41B as family #151/14, at 14945 Liberal:
Meadows, Orvil, 41, age at first marriage 22, b. Ky WVa Ky, metal polisher at hardware factory; Esther, wife, 27, age at first marriage 17, b. Michigan Germany Germany; Violet, dau, 9; Orva, dau, 9; Geraldine, dau, 7; Orvil, son, 5 11/12; Robert, son, 4 2/12; Frances, dau, 1; Theodore, son, 1/12. All children born Michigan Ky Michigan.

1940 census of Wayne Co., Michigan, Detroit ward 21, enumerated 2 April, lists on p. 1B as family #18 at 730 Hillger:
Meadows, Orvil, 51, b. Ky, metal polisher of building hardware; Esther, wife, 37, b. Michigan; Orvil Jr., son, 15; Robert, son, 14; Frances, dau, 11; Theodore, son, 10. All living in same place but not same house in 1935.