Ronald O'Connor

Mr. Ronald D. O’Connor, 76, of West Seneca, NY died unexpectedly Friday, May 31, 2019 due to injuries sustained in a four-wheeler accident.

Born March 29, 1943 in Salamanca, NY, he was the son of the late Thomas P. and Eleanor M. Billy O’Connor.

He was an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, Deer Clan.

He was a graduate of Salamanca High School, Class of 1961, and was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving on board the USS Champlain and was on board when the first Gemini spacecraft was retrieved after splashdown.

Mr. O’Connor had been employed with the University of Buffalo as an electronics technician, retiring in 1980.

He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and being at camp and in the woods.

Surviving are: his companion of 39 years, Janice L. Sexton, West Seneca, NY; four daughters, Maureen Kreizman, TX, Denise Martin, FL, Shelly Starkey, IN, Dawn O’Connor, IN; four grandchildren; a great-grandchild; four sisters, Patricia (Rev. Leon) Canfield, Salamanca, NY, Sharon Miles, York, PA, Elaine (Randy) Hinman, Salamanca, NY, Marsha Sue Wood, IN; several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY on Friday, June 7, 2019 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., at which time funeral services will be held with Rev. Leon Canfield officiating.

Burial will be in Memorial Heights Cemetery, Jimersontown, NY.

Full military honors will be conducted by members of the American Legion Hughes-Skiba Post 535 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars John F. Ahrens Post 5296.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.

E-condolences can be sent to orourke.orourkefh@gmail.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh.