Marshall W. Connor

Marshall W. Connor, 96, of Coatesville, passed away peacefully at Paoli Hospital, surrounded by his loving family, on Friday, November 17, 2017.
He was the beloved husband of the late Evelyn Rineer Connor, who went to be with the Lord in 2009. They enjoyed almost 65 years of marriage.
Born in Coatesville, he was the son of the late Wilhemina S. Connor and Marshall E. Connor.
Marty graduated from the Coatesville High School in 1938. He had a beautiful tenor voice and has the distinction of being the FIRST Honor Soloist of the Meistersingers. He was a star athlete and received the
Garman Award, the scholar male athlete award. He was inducted in the Coatesville High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, and was its first president. He was also an active member of the committee.
He was also a graduate of the Williamson College of the Trades, Media, PA, class of 1941. Marty was one of the first inductees into its Sports Hall of Fame. He loved Williamson and still wrote articles representing his year, in the Williamsonian newsletter, and never missed an alumni day there.
Marty was a member of the Army Air Corp and served as a 2nd Lieutenant and bombardier of the 47th bomb group, from 1943-1945, during WW2.
He started his career at Lukenweld and shortly thereafter took a job with PECO. He retired from PECO in 1981, having worked for 35 years, in the engineering dept., as a technical asst. Marty also taught electricity courses at the VoTech School in Coatesville.
Olivet United Methodist Church was his home away from home. He served in every capacity and received Olivet's "Order of Olivet" Award. He was Sunday School Superintendent for 40 years. For 80 years, he taught Sunday School and sang in the church choir, having been recruited as a boy soprano at age 16. Marty would have celebrated his 90th year in the spring, as the oldest living member of Olivet, having been confirmed when he was 7 years old. He was certainly a man of God, demonstrating his love of his Lord on a daily basis. He also enjoyed attending the weekly Friday Men's Lunch Bible Study. He was a frequent guest soloist at many churches and civic organizations in the area. He sang with the Washingtonians and was a charter member of the Coatesville Choraliers, for 40 years. He was also a charter member of Camp Savage, a hunting lodge in Potter County. He joined when in his 20's. He was president for many years and had fond memories of family trips there.
Marty was inducted into the Coatesville Hall of Fame for his leadership roles in many civic organizations. He was a PTA president, president of the Chester Valley Swim Club, president of the Senior Center of Coatesville and member of its executive board, president of the Coatesville Alumni Assoc., and also president of the Employees Assoc. of PECO.
He enjoyed family vacations at Ocean City, NJ, and traveled extensively with his wife, visiting many European countries, Australia, New Zealand and across the United States. They especially enjoyed a trip to Romania for a concert tour with the Coatesville Choraliers. In recent years, Marty loved spending a large part of his summers at Heart Lake, Montrose, PA, with his family.
He served Meals on Wheels for 30 years with Evelyn and was active in Coatesville's Operation Thanksgiving/Christmas. He was an avid golfer, as well. What was most important to Marty, though, was his love and devotion to his wife, his daughters and their husbands, grandchildren and great grandchildren, who adored him. He attended every sporting event, concert or special activity for his daughters and grandchildren and was their biggest fan. Marty delighted in his family and was so proud of them.
He is survived by his three daughters: Pamela Walsh, wife of Joseph, Penny Brinton, wife of Michael, and Patty Biffen, wife of David. He was the grandfather of Joe, Kelly, Jennifer, Jason, Kate, Kelsey, Cara and Corinne, and great-grandfather of Emily, Seamus, Carter, Callie, Campbell, Robert, Rosie, Taylor, Kaiden, Presley, Tatum and Holden. Marty is also survived by his loving sister, Lillian Hadley Windle of Cochranville.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 22, at Olivet United Methodist Church, 310 E. Chestnut St. Coatesville. Family and friends may call on Tuesday, November 21, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Harris-Mountain Funeral Home, 1030 E. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, and from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Wednesday, in the Garden Room of Olivet United Methodist Church, 310 E. Chestnut St., Coatesville. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Coatesville.
In his memory, memorial contributions may be made to the Olivet United Methodist Church, at the above address or to the Coatesville Senior Center, 250 Harmony St., Coatesville, PA 19320.