James E. Conlan

CONLAN JAMES EDWARD CONLAN Passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at Westminster Retirement Community, Lake Ridge, VA. Born December 7, 1916, in Toledo, OH, he was a long-time resident of Michigan. Graduating from the University of Detroit in 1937, Mr. Conlan went on to play three years of professional baseball for leagues in New York and the Eastern Shore. At the outbreak of World War II he enlisted in the Coast Artillery, then became a pilot for the Army Air Corps, flying nearly 50 missions in B-25''s and B-26''s out of North Africa. He earned the Air Medal with Seven Clusters and the Purple Heart, eventually rising to the rank of captain. Mr. Conlan had a 40-year career in sales and marketing with General Motors Corporation. He retired in 1981. A Eucharistic Minister in the Catholic Church, Mr. Conlan volunteered extensively in the Detroit area. His most enduring legacy was as a Director and multi-term President of the Board of the St. Francis Home for Boys. Mr. Conlan is survived by Elaine, his wife of 64 years; a son, James Edward Conlan, Jr. (Kathleen); four daughters, Maureen Reddy (Martin), of Reston, VA, Susan Young (Ronald), of Fountain Valley, CA, Mary Beth Girtz (Darryl), of Suffolk, VA and Kathleen Conlan Foor (Don), also of Reston, VA; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His sister, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, lives in Dearborn, MI. Services will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 10:30 a.m., at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Woodbridge, VA. Interment will take place at Fairfax Memorial Park in Fairfax, VA. The family requests that anyone who wishes to make a contribution contact Catholic Charities USA, at www.catholiccharitiesusa.com . To offer the family condolences please go to: www.millerfuneralhome.net