In Memory of
Walter Robert (Bob) O'Connor
February 15, 1926 - June 14, 2017
Obituary
Walter Robert (Bob) O'Connor, age 91, passed away
on June 14, 2017 after a short illness.
Born on February 15, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY, Walter was
also a resident of Totowa and Wayne, NJ; Norman, OK; and
Ocala and Clearwater, FL, before moving to Myrtle Beach,
SC in 2012. In his early adult years, Walter married his
childhood sweetheart, Mary Theresa O'Connor (nee
O'Brien) and started a family. During WWII, Walter
served in the U.S.
Army Air Corps and, during the Korean War, in the U.S.
Air Force. In 1971, Walter retired from the Port
Authority Police of NY and NJ after 23 years of service,
as a Police Captain and Commanding Officer of the Port
Authority Police Unit at New York's John F. Kennedy
Airport.
On retirement, he was immediately employed by the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as Chief, FAA
Security Field Office at LaGuardia Airport. In 1973, he
was promoted and transferred to the Transportation
Safety Institute in Oklahoma City to train domestic and
international police officers in Airport Security
Policing. During the 14 years Walter worked at the
Institute, he was assigned additional progressive
administrative and management responsibilities while he
earned a BA degree in Police Management and an MBA
degree at Oklahoma City University. He retired from
Federal service in 1987 as Deputy Director of the
Institute. Upon retirement, Walter enjoyed working with
the computer, bowling, and serving as an usher for more
than 20 years as a member of Queen of Peace Catholic
Church.
He also was a member of the Retired Police Association
of the State of New York and a Life member of the
International Association of Chiefs of Police. Walter
was predeceased by his loving wife of 67 years, Mary T.
O'Connor (d. September 15, 2015), parents Walter and
Alice (nee Walsh) O'Connor, one brother, James Ransom,
and one sister, Margaret O'Brien. Walter is survived by
his five loving children: William O'Connor (Robin) of
Marietta, GA; Ellen Hill (Bobby-deceased) of Myrtle
Beach; Margaret Bush-Shumlich (Gary) of Myrtle Beach,
SC; Noreen Withers (Scott) of Doylestown, PA; John
O'Connor (Bev) of Jupiter, FL, 13 grandchildren, and 7
great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held at the
Myrtle Beach Funeral Home and Crematory, 4505 Hwy 17
Bypass South on Thursday, June 15, 2017 from 1-3 pm.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 16, 2017, at
10AM at St. Michael's Catholic Church (542 Cypress Ave)
in Murrells Inlet, SC. Walter's ashes will be interred
at the VA National Cemetery in Florence, SC, at 10 AM on
Monday, June 19, 2017. In lieu of flowers, donations may
be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor
www.littlesistersofthepoortotowa.org
