Ralph Conner

MARION, VIRGINIA: RALPH CONNER, age 90, died Thursday, March 8, 2007 in Kroontje Health Care Center at Warm Hearth Village, Blacksburg, Virginia. Born April 6, 1916 in Marion, Virginia, he was the second child, to the late David Willis and Mattie Snider Conner. He graduated from Marion High School in 1933 and from Marion Junior College in 1935. He then attended National Business College and graduated in 1939, completing a commercial and accounting course. Ralph began his career at Weiler Department Store in Marion, Virginia. He later worked as payroll clerk in the Accounting department at Carter Coal Company in West Virginia. The bulk of career was working for Smyth County News as the manager of Advertising. He also worked for Blue Ridge Job Corps as the purchasing and accounting administrator. Ralph began his military service in 1942 with basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas and later with advanced training at Desert Training Center in California. He later flew over seas to England served in the 448th Anti-aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion as a Technical Sergeant. He also served in France, Luxemburg, Belgium, Holland, and Germany with Geo. S. Patton's 3rd army 35th Infantry Division. Also served in 1st, 7th, and 9th armies. He was finally discharged on September 15, 1945 from the Army at Fort Meade, Maryland. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Aileen Sprinkle whom he married September 27, 1947 in Marion, Virginia; one brother, Fred Conner; and one son-in-law, William E. "Gene" Craft. He is survived by two daughters and one son-in-law, Jean Conner of Clifton Forge, Virginia, and Brenda C. and Mark Montgomery of Blacksburg, Virginia. Two grandchildren, Kevin and Amy Montgomery. Two brothers and three sisters-in-law, Harold and June Conner of Marion, Virginia; Marvin and Bonnie Conner of Bowie, Maryland; and Alice Conner of Marion, Virginia. One sister, Thelma Foglesong of Marion, Virginia. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Kroontje Health Care Center at Warm Hearth Village, Blacksburg, Virginia and to the Good Samaritan Hospice. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Reggie Tuck and Rev. Jeff Lambert officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Cemetery, Marion, Virginia, where full military rites will be conducted by Francis Marion V.F.W. Post #4667. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 115 South Church Street, Marion, Virginia 24354.