Fred J Conover

Fred J. Conover, 83, of Grand Prairie, TX, passed away on April 10, 2014 after a battle with cancer. Fred was born in Fort Cobb, OK on December 15, 1930 and graduated from Grand Prairie High School. After graduation, Fred served in the Marine Corps 1948 to 1952. Fred joined the Grand Prairie Police Department in 1954 and rose through the ranks to become Chief of Police in 1961. He was promoted to Director of Public Safety over Fire, Police, and Civil Defense in 1971. Fred retired from GPPD in 1981 and then worked for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office retiring there in 1991. Fred received many awards while in law enforcement, was a charter graduate of the Southwestern Police Academy, and was instrumental in forming the NCTCOG Regional Police Academy as well as the North Texas Chiefs of Police Association. Fred’s fondest memories were of his days at GPPD and the DA’s office and he cherished the friendships that were made there. For many years Fred had a passion for horses and horse racing and relished his visits to the track with friends. He was a lover of animals, and will be missed by his many animal friends, domestic and wild. Fred is survived by his best friend, and companion, Claire Fitzgibbon; son Steve Conover and wife Damita; son Ron Conover and wife Nancy; daughter Patricia Cantu, grandchildren Wendy Conover Garner and husband Greg, Heather Conover and husband Ron, Cody Conover, Trystan Sangermano (Conover), Kristen Cantu, and three great-grandchildren, Layne, Georgia, and Hadley. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Elva Conover, wife of 45 years and the mother of his children, Nancy Conover, and his second wife, Bess Burr Conover. Fred was a long time member of the First Christian Church of Grand Prairie.