“The F-100 was my first fighter out of pilot training and I flew my last flight in AF in September 1989 in an F-100. How’s that for career progression.
Went to work for Northwest where I flew for 20 more years. Retired from Northwest Airlines/Delta Airlines in October of 2009 as a Captain on the A320 Airbus.
Since that time I’ve resided in Greeley and Kersey CO and fly my RV-8 Experimental as a member of the Rocky Mountain Renegades formation airshow team.”
Edward W. O’Connor (LtCol USAF, Ret) “Headed West” on June 19, 2021.
Lieutenant Colonel Edward W. O’Connor, 74, of Kersey, CO, passed away June 19, 2021, in Greeley.
He was born July 29, 1946, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa to Paul Lawrence and Irene Pearl (Campbell) O’Connor. Ed was a native of Ottumwa, Iowa where he was raised and was a graduate of Walsh Catholic High School (1964) and Northeast Missouri State College (1968).
After graduating college, he enlisted in the Air Force in Macon, GA, and fulfilled his dream of becoming a pilot in 1969. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and retired with a 21-year career from the Air Force in September 1989.
After retiring from the Air Force, he went to work for Northwest/Delta Airlines, flying for another 20 years. He retired from Delta in 2009 and continued to fly his homebuilt RV-8 plane in air shows and other events in and around Colorado.
Ed was a very accomplished pilot with over 18,000 flying hours and 500 combat hours. He was a founding member of the Rocky Mountain Renegades, held various positions in the local EAA Chapter 1117, helped facilitate The Young Eagles Program and The Learn to Fly Program, and was also instrumental in coordinating the fly-overs for the Greeley Stampede, Kersey Days and LaSalle Days parades for the past ten years.
Other organizations he was involved in were the Air Force Association (AFA); Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA); Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); Quiet Birdmen; National Rifle Association (NRA) and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO). Ed also loved woodworking and was extremely talented, building many furniture pieces for his family.
Thankful to have shared his life include his wife, Lisa O’Connor, children; Staci (Ron) King of Winder, GA, Ashley (Jeff) Gregg of Woodstock, GA, Danny (Taylor) Malpiede of Greeley, CO and Alecia Malpiede of Greeley, CO, grandchildren; Brandon (Keri) King, Paul (Sarah) King, Ticia King, Kelsey Gregg, Savannah Gregg and a great-grandson, Oakley King, former spouse Sandra Brown, all of GA, and siblings; Denis (Annie) O’Connor of CA, Jolene (Carl) Leier of OH, and Gary (Denise) O’Connor of IA.
Ed’s Life Celebration was held on Thursday, July 8, 2021, at the Greeley/Weld Airport Pavilion with private inurnment to be held at Linn Grove Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be made to the local EAA Chapter 1117, in care of Adamson Life Celebration Home, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Friends may leave condolences at AdamsonCares.com.
Published by Greeley Tribune on Jul. 4, 2021
