John Joseph Conlon

John was born in Dorchester, Mass., on Nov. 12, 1916, to Daniel J. and Mary L. Conlon. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Elizabeth “Liz” Conlon.

He is survived by his children, Jane Farmer and her late husband Rex, Susan Fogg and husband Steve, Beth Whitt and husband Eric, and Mike Conlon and wife Cindy.

John served in the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1933. He was a member of the Massachusetts State Police and served 10 years in the U.S. Army as an enlisted man and officer, serving four years in World War II.

He retired from the Army in 1946 as a result of wounds and became a permanent resident of Athens. John became a business partner in Big B Grocery and then Griffis Electric Co. He served eight years as a member of the Athens City Council (1960-1964/1972-1976) and was employed by the city as superintendent of Streets and Sanitation and as an installer for the gas department.

He also served as post commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, 542nd and 511th Airborne Association, Alabama Forever Wild, Athens Recycling Board, and was an Order of Arrow Scout Leader.

He was an active volunteer for United Way, the Internal Revenue Service Income Tax Program, the Birdie Thornton Center, CASA, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army and was a good neighbor to anyone who needed him.

Rosary will begin at 4 p.m. Monday at McConnell Funeral Home followed by visitation from 5-8 p.m. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Catholic Church. Pallbearers will be grandsons Chuck Farmer, Philip Farmer, Scott Farmer, Brad Whitt, Casey Fogg and Zachary Conlon.

John was an active member of St. Paul Catholic Church and requested, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to St. Paul Catholic Church Building fund at P.O. Box 998, Athens, AL 35612, or your favorite charity.