That was how Tony McGrane, former mayor and now State MP, described one of the city's leading businessmen who died on Saturday aged 84.

During a funeral service at St Andrew's Uniting Church in Dubbo yesterday Mr McGrane paid tribute to "a gentleman and a generous man".

"He was a thoroughly decent great guy - a true blue icon of Dubbo."

Albert Ellis Orbell was born in 1919 to his father of the same name and mother Eleanor Orbell (nee Salter).

The son, aged 17 at the time, took over the family soft-drink manufacturing business and catering operation in 1937 on the death of his father. He developed it into one of Dubbo's biggest and most successful businesses which, at one time, employed 60 people with branches in Parkes and Bourke.

The younger Albert never really retired and up until few years ago was often seen driving around town on business in his yellow Mighty Boy ute.

"He trusted people and they trusted him," Mr McGrane said.

"He finalised a deal on a hand shake and that was good enough for him and good enough for them.

"I remember Doug Moran telling me that he could never have built the private hospital in Dubbo without Aby selling him the land at a favourable price - and it was all done on a hand shake.

"He was like that when it came to assisting development in Dubbo."

Mr Orbell's generosity was almost his undoing during the 1955 floods in western NSW.

"Aby lent all his trucks to the local councils to help relief operations," Mr McGrane said.

"It nearly cost him his business and it took him nearly six months to get back on track."

Fortunately, a new-found interest in racing provided an unexpected source of much-needed cash when one of his horses won the Nyngan Cup. Mr Orbell was a great supporter of Lillimur House in Dubbo, coincidentally with another well-known businessman, Jack Goss, who died on Christmas Day.

He was also a generous supporter of the Westhaven Association.

Mr Orbell married his second wife Patricia (Milling) in 1953 and in January this year the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

"He was a very kind and generous man," Mrs Milling said yesterday.

"In fact, I would often tell him that if he had a fault it was that he was too fair and too kind to others."

The couple enjoyed their association with horse racing including a racing trip overseas. Mr Orbell's best horse was Burly who won at Moonee Valley but he was better known for having a wealth of knowledge and sound advice to relate about the sport and industry.

He was still attending race meetings at Dubbo in recent years where his sons Ken and Peter operated as bookmakers.

Mr Orbell, as successful as he was in business and life, was an unassuming man who never had a bad word to say for or about anyone.

Mr Orbell had been unwell in recent months and reluctantly entered a nursing home where he died at the weekend. Fortunately, he was well enough to take part in Christmas Day celebrations with his family.

He is survived by his wife Patricia, sons Ken and Peter, and five grandchildren. His funeral service took place yesterday to allow all his grandchildren to attend, something that would not have been possible later in the week.