Howard O’Connor

Memorial services for Howard Grant O’Connor, 87, Lawrence, KS will be held at 11:00 a.m.
a week from tomorrow, Friday, September 17, 2010 at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence.  He died on Thursday, September 8, 2010 at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.

He was born on March 14, 1923 in Kansas City, KS, the son of Grant & Elizabeth Poulsen O’Connor.

Mr. O’Connor was a member of the 1941 graduating class of Washington Rural High School in Kansas City, Kansas.

He was a veteran of World War II and served as a Medic in the United States Army from July 10, 1944 to June 28, 1946. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He attended Kansas State University where he received his Bachelor’s of Science in Geology in 1948 and received his Master’s degree in Geology from the University of Kansas in June 1959.

Mr. O’Connor worked for the University of Kansas – Kansas Geological Survey as a Senior Geologist and Geohydrologist beginning in June, 1948 until he retired February, 1989. 

He was a lifetime honorary member in the Kansas Groundwater Association, a lifetime member of the Kansas State Geology Advisory Council, and a member of the Kansas State University Foundation’s President Club.  He was active in The Endacott Society through the University of Kansas.  He was also a member of the Community Mental Health Center and in 1990 he received the Pioneer Award given by Bert Nash.  He was a PDR Writer at Brandon Woods and a member of the Dorsey Liberty Post #14 American Legion in Lawrence.

He was a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence since 1951 and was a Stephen Minister for nine years.
 
Mr. O’Connor was married to Virginia Ruth Wollenberg on September 10, 1945 in Kansas City, Kansas.  She preceded him in death on October 16, 1994.

Survivors include one daughter; Peggy, and husband, Stephen Vierthaler, Lee’s Summit, MO; one son, Robert O’Connor, Lawrence; Seven grandchildren, Christian, Gyer, Callum, and Molly Vierthaler, and Melissa, Arin, and Heather O’Connor.  He was preceded in death by one brother, Ralph, Wichita, KS.

The family suggests memorials in his name to National Alliance for Mentally Ill of Greater Kansas City or Court Appointed Special Advocate Association for Children (C.A.S.A.) and may be sent in care of the mortuary.