John J. O’Connor, 82, of Lawrenceville, Ga., formerly of Fitzgerald, Ga., died Friday, December 13, at his residence, surrounded by family.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM Friday, December 20, at Central Wesleyan Church with the Rev. B.J. Funk officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery with the Rev. Danny Gay officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2PM Friday at the church.
Born in Jersey City, N.J., on February 9, 1942, Mr. O’Connor grew up in nearby Hasbrouck Heights, where he attended Corpus Christi Catholic School and Hasbrouck Heights High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 18 and, after basic training at Parris Island, he was sent to the Marine Corps base in Albany, Ga. There, he met Anne Watson in the summer of 1963, and they were married a year later.
Mr. O’Connor was a graphic artist, engineering draftsman, teacher, and sign painter during his career, working for companies in Albany and Adel, as well as remotely for companies in Americus and Detroit, Mich. He retired from federal employment at the Marine Corps base in Albany in 2000. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 99 in Fitzgerald.
Late in life, Mr. O’Connor accepted the call to ministry and became a United Methodist local pastor, serving numerous churches in the South Georgia Conference both full-time and part-time. He was a longtime member of Central United Methodist Church and continued enjoying watching weekly services online after he and his wife moved from Fitzgerald in 2018 to live with their daughter near Atlanta.
Mr. O’Connor was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Watson O’Connor; his sister, Catherine DeSessa; his brother, Richard O’Connor; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John J. O’Connor Sr.; and his brother-in-law, Keith Watson.
He is survived by his daughters and son-in-law, Shannon O’Connor and Erin (Robb) Landau of Lawrenceville, Ga.; his sister, Dorothy Gumbrecht of Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Carol Watson of Marietta, Ga., and Carol (Fred) Miller of Jacksonville, Fla.; uncle and aunt, Gerald (Betty) Smith; aunt, Elke (Marchmon) Howell; multiple nieces and nephews; and countless cousins.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials, please send them to No Kid Hungry, Feeding America, or your local food bank.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.