William M. McConnell

William Michael McConnell was born on May 13, 1949 in Nelsonville, Ohio and died on May 7, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. The eldest boy of seventeen siblings (but the fifth child), he quickly learned how to play nicely with girls, which would serve him well, as his own family was dominated by the XX variety. “Bill,” as he was known by friends and family, graduated from Nelsonville High School and went on to serve in the United States Air Force, where he received training in aviation electronics (also known as “avionics”), serving in varied areas such as Norfolk, VA, Biloxi, MI, and Karamursel, Turkey.

Bill went on to marry his beautiful bride Portia (nee Ireton) and together they celebrated nearly fifty years of marriage. Whether it was attending a nursing school graduation (or two!), watching another Shakespearean drama (let’s just say he was not in love with the bard) or sitting through hours of a cold spring track meet on rain-soaked bleachers, he did all without complaining. He was always there to help a daughter move, put up a light fixture, work on plumbing (and he hated plumbing), or hang a picture perfectly. He was the best dad to his four daughters. With the help of his loving wife Portia, in his thirties, he opened his own business, “Mac-Michael Avionics,” which was legendary both at the Springfield Municipal Airport (Ohio), and later the Delaware Municipal Airport (Ohio). Though thankfully never much of a shot (say his vegetarian daughters), he enjoyed hunting with a bow. A master wood worker, he beautified the houses of his family and friends with his astonishing creations, the piece de resistance perhaps being a chevron dining room table made from a cedar wood fence. During a family game of trivial pursuit, so vast was his knowledge, and so eager was he to participate that he was deemed a “swinger” player and allowed to play both sides (he was going to answer anyway!). Known for his quick wit and his rarely usable social advice, Bill had a quote for all occasions (and persons).

He is preceded in death by his parents, William Sr and Ethel McConnell, also of Nelsonville Ohio, and his younger brother, Thomas McConnell. He is survived by fifteen of his siblings: Mary Ann, Jeannie, Ethel, Patty, Matt, Mark, Paul, Mike, George, Lori, Theresa, Katie, Jodi, Paula and Chris. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Portia, and his four daughters Tammy (and John Glynn), Pam (Arras), Erin McConnell (Dustin Anderson) and Jennifer McConnell, and his grandchildren: Taylor (and Angie) Glynn, Nick Glynn, Ryan (and Erica) Arras and Sean Arras.

Viewing will be at Schoedinger Margarum Northeast Funeral Home in Gahanna 1051 E. Johnstown Road on Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 6-8pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 795 Havens Corner Road, Gahanna, OH with a lunch immediately following on Friday, May 12, 2023 beginning at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Bill’s honor to one of the following organizations: Habitat for Humanity https://www.habitat.org/ Pancreatic Cancer Action Network https://pancan.org/