J. Fred O'Connell

J. Fred O'Connell
SPARTANBURG, SC-- James Fred O'Connell, 87, of 117 Eastwood Circle, died Thursday, December 6, 2007, at his home. Born November 5, 1920, in Liberty, SC, he was the son of the late James Patrick and Mary Parsons O'Connell. He was reared in Greenville, SC, where he graduated from Greenville High School in 1938 as president of his class. He attended Furman University and graduated from George Washington University in 1945. At George Washington he was president of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity and a member of Pi Gamma Mu Honorary Fraternity. He was retired from Milliken and Company after 45 years of service as both an associate and a consultant. Previous to that, he had been a Page in the U.S. House of Representatives, an assistant editor of a daily publication for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and a reporter for the Kiplinger Washington Letters, all in Washington, D.C. He was a lifetime member of the Institute of Management Accountants, coordinator for a Mobile Meals route for 20 years, and a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II. He was a longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where he served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons, an Elder, and a Sunday School teacher.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Jamie Love McKinney O'Connell; a daughter, Julie Claytor and her husband Frank Lykes Claytor of Columbia; two sons, Michael Frederick O'Connell and his wife Susan Halter of Medford, MA, and Patrick James O'Connell of Oakland, CA; and two grandchildren, Frank Lykes Claytor, Jr. and Margaret Louise Claytor of Columbia. He was predeceased by a sister, Patricia O'Connell.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, December 8, 2007, at Westminster Presbyterian Church conducted by the Rev. Becky Capps and the Rev. Charles H. Horne. Private interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens conducted by the Rev. Dr. B. E. Pettit.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 309 Fernwood Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29307; to Mobile Meals Service, PO Box 461, Spartanburg, SC 29304; or to the charity of one's choice.
The family is at the home.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com.
Floyd's
North Church Street Chapel