INDIANAPOLIS

Richard Jon Conner, known to most of his friends as Rich, of Indianapolis, passed away in his home on March 16, 2024. He was born on April 5, 1953, and grew up in Seymour Indiana, the oldest son of Dr. Wm. M and Nina Conner of Seymour. He graduated from Seymour High School and attended Hanover College and graduated from Indiana University. He received his MBA from Ball State University in 1978. While at Indiana University, he joined the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and lived in the fraternity house on campus. The fraternity house was right next to Mother Bear’s Pizza and he developed a lifelong passion for their pizza, always proclaiming it to be the best in the world. He was employed in the insurance industry in his early working life, retired from working in insurance, and in later years was a valued member of Lowes in Indianapolis. He predominately worked in the plumbing department and received many accolades from customers for his knowledge and his caring manner in that department. One of his greatest passions was reading. He was very well-read on a wide range of topics and loved to discuss his most current interests with anyone he knew. He was a connoisseur of all kinds of fine knives and an avid collector of knives from all over the world. In addition, he was a firearm enthusiast and owned a significant collection of handguns of a wide range of calibers from various well-known manufacturers. He was a proud card-carrying member of the NRA. He was kind, gentle and honest and was extremely generous with those around him, particularly with his nieces and nephews as well as his grandnieces and grandnephews. He would frequently surprise them with gifts that mirrored some interest they had expressed to him. He seemingly found perfect gifts that surprised them with their thoughtfulness. He enjoyed his numerous cats throughout the years, most recently, Cutie Pie, frequently calling them some of his best friends for relaxing with when they joined him on his couch to watch TV. He had a very enjoyable neighborly relationship with his next-door neighbor, John Davis. He very much enjoyed taking in the cultural activities that Central Indiana offered, including the gifts of nature that the State Parks offered. His good friend Sandy Cohen joined him in those endeavors over the last few years.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Cheryl Conner, nee Leasure. He is survived by his sister Dr. Cathy Snyder (Wayne) of Greenwood and his brother, Dr. Joe Conner (Lisa) of Columbus. He is also survived by his niece Katie Aciukewicz (Josh) of Columbus and his grandnieces and grandnephew in that family, Lucy, Conner, and Kelly Rose Aciukewicz. He is survived by his nephew Kyle Conner (Jaicie) of Brownsburg and his grandniece and grandnephews in that family, Camille, Emmett, and Wyatt Conner. He is also survived by his nephew Kurt Conner (Caitlynn) of Greenwood and his grandnephews from that family, Ellis and Wilson Conner.

Per his wishes, he will be cremated and there will be no public service. His remains will be buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Brownstown next to his parents and his maternal grandmother, Ethel Forgey. He was always his grandmother’s favorite grandson and he was very dear, loving, and loyal to her. He will be sorely missed by those close to him and will remain in their hearts forever. This obituary will be available online at www.legacycremationfuneral.com and online memories and condolences can be shared there. If you wish to donate in memory of Richard, please go to www.indyhumane.org and select the “I want to make a donation” tab and then select the “gifts in memory or in honor” tab.