Robert Joseph “Joe” O’Connor, 85, of Spring Lake, passed away on Jan. 11, 2013. Born on March 2, 1927, in Springfield, Mo., he was the son of Dick A. O’Connor and Hester Inmon O’Connor.
Joe married Elizabeth Ann “Betty Ann” O’Connor on May 9, 1953. He worked as an engineer at Bell Lab (Lucent) for 33 years before retiring in 1988. Joe was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. He played the electric guitar for two bands and was the inventor of the Press Weld. Additionally, Joe made heirloom furniture out of hardwood and made woodwork for his church. He was also the inventor of the P-Ringer (“old phone” ring on the iPhone) and built an electric car in his garage in the 1970’s.
Surviving him are his children, Sharon Ann (Joe) Lime of New Palestine, Kathleen (Ivan) Irons of New Palestine, Peggy Jo (Gary) Linard of Indianapolis, Joyce Lynn (Jim Houghton) of New York City, Joe (Carol) O’Connor of Carmel, Beth Ann (John) Forthofer of Shelbyville, Andrew Michael O’Connor of Greenfield, and Ann (Andy) Skinner of Fishers; siblings, JoAnn Carmody of St. Louis, Mo., Michael O’Connor of Kansas City, Mo., and Barbara O’Connor of St. Louis, Mo.; eighteen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many in-laws and loving nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Betty Ann O’Connor; parents; siblings, Mary Margaret Powell, Terry O’Connor, Dan O’Connor, Bobby Bingle, Jim O’Connor, Dixie Gardin, Don O’Connor, Dennis O’Connor, and Patricia O’Connor.
Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at Erlewein Mortuary in Greenfield with a Memory Circle starting at 7:30. Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church in Greenfield. Burial will follow at Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org.
Friends may share a memory or send a condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com or email condolences to [email protected].
