George Warren Conklin

He leaves his wife of 49 years, Carolyn Phillips Conklin; his daughter Jo Ann Holley, one granddaughter and two great grandchildren. He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Montgomery, Alabama.

George enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 at the age of 18. He was a member of the Buzzard Brigade, Torpedo Squardron10, attached to the USS Intrepid, CV-11. As the turret gunner for the three-man Dauntless Torpedo bomber, he saw action in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of the war. His medals and awards included the following, Navy Combat Aircrew Insignia (Wings) with six bronze star awards, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, American Theater Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign. After the war Chief Gunners Mate Conklin served at several Navy Commands until his retirement in 1962. But his most memorable was his tour with the Torpedo Squadron 10 on the Intrepid. Following his retirement, serving 20 years in the Navy, George continued to serve his fellow citizens for 27 years (1966-1983) as a deputy Sheriff with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, in Shelby County, Tennessee.

As a beloved husband and friend, he believed in service to all. George was a huge fan of Alabama Football, smoking his pipes and watching huge amounts of college football on TV. He also loved to trade cars, he walked many of car lots “kicking tires”. As one of the few “Greatest Generation” left George represents the people who saved Democracy, not only for the United States, but the free world. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A visitation will be held Friday December 1, from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Road, Bartlett TN 38133.

Burial will be held Tuesday December 5, 2023, at 11:00 am in West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.