Henry D. Connor

Henry David Connor, Kentucky Wesleyan College professor emeritus of chemistry, passed away on December 10th after heartfelt visits from friends and family. He was born on January 11th, 1943 in Shelbyville, KY to the late Robert and Dolly (Burnett) Connor. After graduating from Waggener High School in Louisville, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke University and his doctorate from Cornell University. At Cornell, he met and married Nancy Wood, his wife of 56 years. After a post-doctoral fellowship at Syracuse University, Henry taught chemistry at Kentucky Wesleyan College for 45 years. He served as an elder at First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Owensboro. He was a member of local chapters of the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club. He enjoyed participating in annual bird counts and Ohio River Sweeps.

Throughout his career, Henry Connor worked with his colleagues to explore new ideas and to protect the environment. During his tenure at Kentucky Wesleyan College, the chemistry program graduated many future medical professionals, professors, and professional chemists. His productive summer collaborations with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and UNC Chapel Hill resulted in his co- authorship on 39 research papers. An advocate for environmental awareness, he served as the Kentucky representative on the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission for 20 years and performed studies on water quality of western Kentucky streams. His accomplishments were recognized with a prestigious Fulbright fellowship in 2001 to work with the premier scientific institute in Slovenia under the sponsorship of Marjeta Sentjurc.

Henry is survived by his wife Nancy, his daughter Rebecca (Jason Weibel), his two grandsons, Rhys and Dylan Weibel, his brother James Robert (Mary Lou), his nephew Leighton (Alice) and his children Blumiere and Jackson, niece Cynthia Borden (Matthew) and her daughter Julianna Borden, and many cousins throughout Kentucky.

On Saturday, Dec.13, visitation will be held from 1-3 pm, with a Celebration of Life service at 3 pm at First Christian Church, Owensboro.  Burial will be in Simpsonville Masonic Cemetery at a later date.  All are welcome.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Chemistry Department at Kentucky Wesleyan College, 3000 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301. Messages and condolences to the family can be shared at www.glenncares.com.