Castex Paul Conner Sr.

CONNER, SR. Castex Paul Conner, Sr.-MACON-91, of 5300 Zebulon Road, went to Heaven Thursday, May 22, 2008. Funeral services were held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday with Monsignor John Cuddy and Father Allan McDonald officiating. Mr. Conner's grandsons were pall bearers. Burial was private. A Rosary was said on Friday evening at Snow's Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make memorial contributions to Glenmary Home Missioners, Box 465618, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246. (Founded by Mrs. Conner's uncle, Father William Howard Bishop.) Mr. Conner was a retired Air Force Colonel and former Vice Commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Command from 1960-1964. He was also a retired Vice President of Sun Trust Bank of Middle Georgia. A native of Jennings, Louisiana, he was a descendent of pioneer Louisiana settlers. He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York with a Bachelor of Science degree. At the Academy, he earned the coveted Major "A" letter as a regular on the LaCrosse Varsity team his junior and senior years. For three years, he was an academic coach and a member of the Catholic choir. Upon graduation from West Point, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. He attended pilot training at Randolph and Kelly Fields, Texas. While at Randolph, he met and married Elizabeth (Petie) Bishop. Mr. Connor was a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and subsequently served as a member of its faculty. His twenty-six years of military services included World War II duty as Deputy Chief of Staff, Materiel, with the 313th Bombardment Wing of the 20th Air Force in the Mariana Islands and duty in the Philippines and Japan. The 313th Wing was the unit that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Mr. Conner was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Macon, the Lion's Club, Grand Jurors Association, Macon Touchdown Club, and Idle Hour Club. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and was a past president of the Macon Touchdown Club, the Joseph's Home and School Association, and the Mount de Sales Athletic Association. He also served on past boards of St. Joseph's Church, Macon Chapter of the American Red Cross, Central Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Macon Lion's Club, the Middle Georgia Squadron of the Air Force Association, and Mount de Sales Academy. Prior to his retirement, he was active in the Chamber of Commerce, United Fund and Health agency activities. Survivors include his wife of sixty-nine years, Elizabeth (Petie) Conner of Macon; children: Castex, Jr. and wife, Judy of San Antonio, Texas; David of Macon, Georgia; William and wife, Mary Charles of Rome, Georgia; Donald and wife, Carol of Stone Mountain, Georgia; Robert and wife, Patricia of Macon, Georgia; Jane (Pinkham) and husband, Tragg of West Columbia, South Carolina and Jean (Dempsey) and husband, Kenneth of Mobile, Alabama; a brother, George of Houston, Texas; fifteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Visit www.mem.com to express tributes. Snow's Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Services, Cherry Street has charge of arrangements.