Thursday, May 30, 2013

James C. Condon (May 30, 2013)

Mr. James C. Condon, age 79, of Versailles, Ohio passed away on May 30, 2013 at 1:27 a.m. at Miami Valley Hospital. He was born April 8, 1934 in Dayton, Ohio, to the late Russell E. and Clara (Stocker) Condon. He was raised in West Milton, Ohio and moved to Versailles, Ohio in 1945. Upon graduation from Parker Vocational HS in Dayton, Ohio in 1952, he worked at the Frigidaire Division of GM and joined the Ohio Air National Guard.

He joined the United States Air Force in October 1954 and entered the Aviation Cadet Program at Ellington AFB in Houston, Texas. Upon graduation in December 1955, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and received his Navigator/Bombadier Wings. During his career, he flew B-47 and B-52 bombers amassing 6,000 flying hours. He flew 126 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He was shot down over Hanoi, North Vietnam on December 28, 1972, was captured and spent 91 days as a POW. From 1973 to 1978 he attended Air War College in Alabama and served on the staff of 15th Air Force in California. After his retirement in 1978, he and his family moved to Versailles. During his combined 26 years of service he received many awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, POW Medal and the Air Medal w/5 Oak Leaf Clusters.

He along with his wife owned and operated The House of Flowers in Versailles, Ohio, for 19 years. During this time he was very active in the community. He served a term on Village Council, was on the Board of the Versailles Development Association, was on the Poultry Days Committee serving as Chairman in 1983 and was one of the founders and served on the Board of Heritage Park. He was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church, a member of the Versailles Lions Club, the Versailles Area Historical Society, a Golden Eagle Member of the Versailles Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2347, the Versailles Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, a member of the Darke County Disabled American Veterans and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Rita Condon, sister Maria and grandson Nathan Condon.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jenny (Siefring) Condon; children and spouses, Brian and Barb Condon, Krista and Charlie Krueger, Mary Beth and Dave Berger and Kelly and Brian Trump, all of Versailles, Ohio; eighteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Brothers and sister, Fred and Roberta Condon, Dick and Angie Condon, Bob and Becky Condon and Marcia and Chuck Meiring, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, June 3, 2013 at St. Denis Catholic Church in Versailles with Rev. Fr. David Vincent celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Valbert Cemetery in Versailles with Military graveside services conducted by the Versailles Veteran’s Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2:00 to 7:00 P.M. and Monday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. at Bailey Zechar Funeral Home in Versailles. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, Versailles Vet’s Club or Versailles Emergency Medical Services. Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com