Obituary of Thomas A. Connor

Warrensburg: Thomas A. Connor, 86, of Potter Brook Road, passed away peacefully, Saturday, March 31, 2018 at his home with his loving family by his side. Born December 14, 1931 in Albany, he was the son of the late Peter and Elizabeth (Wallace) Connor. He was raised in Schenectady with his two siblings, Jerry and Charlotte. Following his graduation from Mont Pleasant High School in 1950, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1952, working aboard the Barnegat Class seaplane tender, the U.S.S. Duxbury Bay as a radioman, specializing in communications technology and overseeing aerial operations on numerous missions in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean until his honorable discharge in 1960. He married Ellen June Carpenter on September 12, 1964 and had five wonderful, hardworking children that were raised on a farm on Potter Brook Road that had been purchased from his mother and father-in-law. Following his honorable discharge, he enrolled in Albany Business School, earning his Associated Degree in business. After working for several area businesses as a bookkeeper, he finally found a job closer to home at Hometown Oil in Warrensburg, where he remained for over a decade. After his retirement, he spent his twilight years working at Walmart in Queensbury full time until the venerable age of 82. Tom’s selflessness, loyalty, and punctuality could largely be attributed to his military service which he instilled to his loving family. Always reliable, ever modest, he will be remembered as a loyal, devoted father in every sense of the title that is earned, not given. One of his proudest moments he spoke of was a tryout for the Philadelphia Phillies that may not have turned out in his favor, but built a lifelong passion for baseball. Yearly trips to Cooperstown with his family would be a fixture for his summers along with the occasional bus trip to a big league match up. He also frequented the casinos, waging war on the many slot machines he encountered, victorious in the sense he would leave knowing for certain he would have the upper hand next time around. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by siblings, Jerome Connor and Charlotte Pratt; step-sisters, Helen Clute and Eileen Apple; brothers-in-law, Philip and Robert Carpenter; sister-in-law, Mary Sweet and grandson, Matthew Connor. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Ellen Connor of Warrensburg; three daughters, Cheryl (Bohannon) Connor, Suzanne Olden and her husband, Larry Jr., and Kathleen Dickinson; two sons, Thomas Connor and his companion, Roberta Cassidy and Kevin Connor and wife, Amanda; seven grandsons, Douglas Bohannon, Benjamin Bohannon, Nicholas Connor, Alekzander Olden, Peyton Olden, Donovan Dickinson, and Michael Connor; one granddaughter, Belle Dickinson; brothers-in-law, Jack Sweet, Donald Carpenter, Edgar Carpenter, Bill Carpenter and Richard Carpenter; sister-in-law, Rosie Carpenter, as well as many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins. Friends may call on Tom’s family from 12 to 2 pm, Thursday, April 5, 2018 at the Alexander Funeral Home, 3809 Main St., Warrensburg, NY. A funeral service to celebrate his life will immediately follow the visitation at 2 pm, at the funeral home with Fr. Thomas Pettigrew, officiating. Burial will follow in Warrensburg Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Warrensburg EMS or Johnsburg EMS. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guest book, condolences, and directions.