William Joseph Connor
March 30, 1919 – October 26, 2017
From the 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation Facebook page:
With heavy hearts, the Memorials Foundation and the Heritage Association report that William J. “Bill” Connor of Portola Valley, CA, left formation on 26 October 2017 at age 98. Bill was a 334th co-pilot and former POW. Folded Wings.
Bill was born on 30 March 1919 in Utica, NY, to Charles and Florence Connor. He was a resident of Portola Valley since 1956. As Bill’s obituary reads, “his grandfather Joseph Connor was a railroad engineer who traveled across the U.S. and decided to move the whole clan out West to California when Bill was a toddler, something Bill said he would always be grateful for. Raised in Southern California, Bill met his future wife Betsy Ferguson in high school, and they were married in 1941.
“During WWII Bill was a pilot of a B-17 aircraft in the U.S. Army Air Corps. On his 12th mission over occupied Europe his plane was shot down. He bailed out and, dazed from a head wound, pulled the rip cord just in time to step on to land. He spent the next 5 days hiding until surrendering to a German prison camp where he spent the next 9 months until being liberated. He returned home with a Purple Heart among other medals.
“After the war, he and Betsy started a family. A job offer in San Francisco brought the family to settle in Menlo Park, then Ladera. Bill loved his neighbors and the community, even though he said it was ‘out in the boonies.’ A family man, he was always involved in his kids’ sports activities and took the family on all kinds of outdoor adventures.
“He worked in the Insurance field and started his own insurance agencies, Allied Brokers and later Alpha I. He enjoyed his career, clients and employees and continued working until his retirement at the age of 84.
“Being his own boss allowed for many years of travel with Betsy. Active and fit, he enjoyed running, tennis, volleyball, badminton, water and snow skiing. He was an avid sports fan and Stanford Football season ticket holder since 1953.
“Bill called himself lucky and said, ‘Laughter is the best medicine.’ Witty to the end, some of his final words were, ‘Doc says I only have another 20 years,’ he said with a wink and a smile.
“Predeceased by his beloved wife Betsy in 2010. Survived by sons Brian and Brent and daughter Claire, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. It has been an honor to have this great man as our Father. We will cherish the memories of a life well lived. A private family burial is planned.”
Bill was indeed an outstanding individual, full of pep and enthusiasm. He filled his emails with humor and had a memorable presence on the 95th’s Facebook page in years past. Bill will be sorely missed.