George Peter O'Connor Jr.

George Peter O'Connor Jr. (Pete) of Great Falls, VA passed away on January 31, 2025. Loving husband, brother-in-law, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many.
Preceded in death by his beloved wife Barbara Burke O'Connor, parents George and Aileen O'Connor, his siblings James O'Connor, Aileen (O'Connor) Hill and Joseph O'Connor.
Survived by his four sons: Peter James and his wife Debbie O'Connor, Robert (Bob) Burke O'Connor, Brian Michael and his wife Alice O'Connor, Mark Andrew O'Connor; grandson Sean O'Connor and his children Madison and Adian; grandson Christopher O'Connor; granddaughter Bridgette O'Connor and Rodney Delcastillo and their children Hailey and Amber; grandson Mark O'Connor Jr; granddaughter Allison Cribbs and her husband Paul; and grandson Christian O'Connor.
Pete was born in San Francisco, California and moved to Lakewood, Ohio until graduating High School. He attended Purdue University, joined the Air Force, went to flight school and married his wife Barbara from Cleveland, Ohio in February of 1957. Pete led a full and exciting life as an Air Force officer / aviator. Within the year after his marriage Pete was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. Barbara and their new infant Peter James joined Pete in Japan. Sons Bob and Brian were made in Japan and the family of five next moved to Peru, Indiana when Pete was stationed to Bunker Hill/Grissom Air Force Base. Son #4 (Mark) came along in Indiana.
Pete was a proud aviator in the B-58 (Hustler) community. In 1962, Pete survived a B-58 crash by bailing out just after takeoff at a speed of 200 mph and became a lifetime member of the caterpillar club (caterpillars make silk, silk makes parachutes). Pete held a record for the lowest emergency ejection from a plane. Pete next served in South East Asia (Viet Nam conflict) navigating C-130 aircraft while Barbara raised the boys until his return eighteen months later. Back at stateside, the family moved to New Carrollton, Maryland when Pete was assigned to Intelligence work at the Pentagon.
Barbara and Pete then moved to Great Falls, VA in 1979. Pete retired from the Air Force after 23 years as a Lt. Colonel and went to work for a defense contracting company (PRC) before retiring. Pete did some part time work in retirement at Great Falls Hardware and Home Depot in Sterling, VA and served as a docent at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport where he is recognized as a Wall of Honor recipient for aviation exploration and commitment for flight. Pete enjoyed spending time at his favorite Great Falls restaurant The Olde Brogue Irish Pub.
Pete & Barbara remained connected to the B-58 community by attending reunions of the B-58 Hustler Association. Pete & Barbara enjoyed traveling with family to Ireland, cruising the Caribbean Islands and Alaska. They enjoyed vacationing with family in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North and South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia. Pete loved all of his family and will be sadly missed yet lovingly remembered.
A memorial service will be held at Saint John Neumann, Reston, VA on Friday March 21st at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery alongside his loving wife Barbara at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association.