Bernard "Bernie" Joseph Conner's Obituary
Annapolis resident, Bernard “Bernie” Joseph Conner passed away peacefully in his home on September 12, 2023 at the age of 73, his family by his side.
The first of three sons, Bernie was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 2, 1950 to Joseph and Yvonne Conner. Bernie served in the U.S. Navy from 1968-1970. In 1982, Bernie married the love of his life, Martha Kempton Conner.
During the Vietnam War, Bernie expressed a desire to serve his Country and, in 1968 at the age of 17, his father allowed him to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Bernie recalls his time in fighter squadron VF96 as his most exciting job. His first ship duty was aboard the first-ever nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise. In 1969, he survived the fateful explosion on the USS Enterprise that took the lives of 27 sailors, injured 314 and destroyed 15 planes. Bernie fondly recalled his time on the USS Enterprise as where he developed a love for the ocean. After leaving the Navy in 1970, he began work with a heating and air conditioning company. Bernie spent most of his life in the sales industry, though always considered himself an inventor, seeking patents for several of his ideas. Bernie even took the leap to start his own business. His claim to fame was “The Grocery Cart”. A proxy shopping service (think Instacart, DoorDash, etc.), Bernie was ahead of his time! He also had a love of nature photography and captured some stunning images over his lifetime. Bernie’s one true love was Ireland. In the early 2000s, he and Martha took a dream vacation there.
Bernie was preceded in death by his wife, Martha; parents, Joseph and Yvonne Conner and brother Jerry Conner. He is survived by one brother Joseph Conner (Kathleen Conner) of Fallston, MD, daughter Allison Conner of Annapolis, MD., step-daughters Lisa Durosky of Butte, MT., Jessica Christie (Jay Christie) of Arnold, MD and Alexis Forrester of Annapolis, MD., grand-children Kiernan Forrester, John Forrester, Matthew Purdy, Madeline Christie, Marissa McDanel, Karste McDanel and great-grandchildren, Teegan and Myles Howerton, Harper McDanel, Aniyah and Anthony Diggs and longtime close friend, Dawn Thomason.
Family will receive visitors on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care, 814 Bestgate Rd., Annapolis, MD 21401. Service and burial will take place Monday, September 25, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, 1122 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, MD.
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