Paul H. Conner

June 6, 1925 to January 27, 2008 Father, Veteran and Legislator Paul H. Conner, former Washington State Senator from the 24th Legislative District, passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2008. He was known throughout the Olympic Peninsula for his service in the state legislature from 1957 to 1992. He enjoyed the confidence of his constituents by being re- elected for 35 consecutive years after his initial appointment to the Senate in 1957. In 1959 he was first elected to the House and served there until 1977, when he was elected to the Senate each year until 1992. Although his most important service to his beloved community of Clallam, Jefferson, Mason and part of Thurston counties was accomplished in Olympia, he belonged to numerous community service organizations including - the Fraternal Order of the Eagles (past president, 1967-68), the Toastmasters International, the National Conference of State Legislatures, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks (BPOE) Lodge in Sequim and Port Angeles. Paul and his wife, Thelma, of 59 years raised their family in the Port Angeles and Sequim area beginning in 1948. He is survived by Thelma; his children, Edward, Paula, Karen, Kevin and Sheri, and their spouses; fifteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Paul attended Port Angeles High School, graduating in 1943. He joined the Merchant Marines during World War ll. He was a radioman and his ship served in various task force convoys in the Pacific, and even followed General MacArthur and the USS Missouri into Tokyo Bay to receive the surrender in 1945. Following his service in World War ll, he later attended Port Angeles Business College, Western Washington State College, University of Washington and Peninsula College. His numerous jobs on the Olympic Peninsula included working for the Public Utility District in Port Angeles and later as a longshoreman in the International Longshoremen's Union Local 27 in Port Angeles before he retired in 1990. A private burial service will be conducted on Friday, February 1, 2008. A public memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 1:00 p.m., at the King's Way Four Square Church, 1023 Kitchen-Dick Road, Sequim, WA 98382. All of his many friends and acquaintances are invited to celebrate the life of this public servant and friend to many. The Conner family humbly requests that contributions in Paul's memory be made to the "Camp Fund" at King's Way Four Square Church, 1023 Kitchen-Dick Road, Sequim, WA 98382.