Norville T. Conner

Norville T. Conner, age 97, escaped these earthly bounds on September 23, 2015 after a long illness. He was born and raised in Wheeler, Texas to a ranching family. He graduated from Wheeler High School in 1935 and worked on ranches and his uncle’s tailor shop during the depression. On September 13, 1940, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp as a Private and rose to the grade of Master Sargent, Line Chief, Ninth Air Force, P47 Group. He served in Europe during World War II including the Battle of the Bulge, and it was the defining experience of his life. He was affectionately known to all as “Sarge” and the war stories he told were a mixture of funny and sad. After the war he remained as a civil service employee at Reese Airbase, Lubbock, Texas until his retirement in 1975. He was a lifetime member of the VFW.

N.T. (Sarge) was married to Katherine Dudgeon of Tahoka from 1943 until her death in 1975. In 1976 he married Melba Ivy. They resided in Lubbock until moving to the Baptist Memorial Retirement Center, San Angelo, Texas in 1980. Melba Conner preceded him in death in 2007.

Family remaining to mourn Sarge includes his son, Michael Conner of Tahoka, Texas; step-daughter, Reeda Peel-Fleming and husband Mike of Alpine, Texas; step-granddaughter Ronda Hollingsworth and her husband Larry; step-granddaughter Robin Wood; and three step-great-grandsons and their families.

Sarge’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Baptist Memorial House of Hope for their gentle, loving care. The family requests donations to any Alzheimer’s organization in lieu of flowers.

Funeral service is at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 26th, at Johnson’s Funeral Home Chapel with burial following in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.