William Edward Conner Jr.

Mr. Conner, 87, of DeKalb, died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012m at his home. He was born Oct. 3, 1924, in DeKalb to William Edward and Alice Stallings Conner. He will be remembered as a family man, loving husband, father and PawPaw.

Mr. Conner was very patriotic. A World War II veteran, he entered the Navy at age 17 and served as a torpedo man aboard the USS Whale & the USS Nautilus. After the war, Mr. Conner worked for the GM&O Railroad as a brakeman and was a rural mail carrier in Kemper County for 43 years. He held memberships in DeKalb Methodist Church – serving in numerous capacities, including Sunday School teacher and steward), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) and the National Rifle Association (NRA). Mr. Conner was past commander of American Legion Post #5. In 2008, he received the Sonny Montgomery Patriots Award from the Kemper County Chamber of Commerce.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dot Briggs Conner of DeKalb; daughters, Gloria (Raymond) Cumberland and Kim (Ray) Davis, both of DeKalb, and Dawn (Ricky) McCann of Shuqualak; grandchildren, Josh (Sondra) Cumberland, Will (Heather) Cumberland, Laura (Rob) McArthur, Rick (Katy) McCann, Gabe (Sara) McCann, Matt (Stephanie) McCann, Molly McCann, Thad (Laura) Davis, Adam Davis and Kyle Davis; great-grandchildren, Katie Cumberland, Tyler Cumberland, Hunter Cumberland, Miranda Cumberland, Nathan Shelton, Sam Shelton, Madi McArthur, Maggie McCann, Conner McCann, Ella McCann, Liam McCann, Logan Davis, Eli Davis and Whitley Davis; siblings, John Conner, Nancy Reed and Helen Price; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Alice Conner; and a brother, John Edward Conner, who lived one day.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons; honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters. Old favorite hymns will be played by great-grandson Nathan Shelton.

A private visitation will be held prior to services.