Hendsley "Hench" Randolph "Randy" Conner, 92, went to join his wife Fay and son Kerry in heaven Friday, July 12, 2024. Randy was born on October 27, 1931 in McComas, WV to Doctor Huff and Gracie Ann Conner. He graduated from Princeton High School in 1949 and enlisted in the Air Force on January 23, 1950.  He entered Aviation Cadet School in 1952 and graduated as a 2nd Lt. Navigator in 1953. Hench, his nickname while in the Air Force, became a pilot in 1955. Over the next 25 years he was stationed at 16 different bases including a 3 year tour in Japan.  Randy flew over 200 combat missions over VietNam in 1966-67 in the B-57 bomber and was awarded the Silver Star. In 1967 he was transferred to Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio where he joined the B-52 SAC bomber wing. In 1972 he was sent to Guam in order to fly B-52 bombing missions over Vietnam. In December 1972, while he was riding along as an observer, his B-52 was hit by a surface-to-air missile and crashed in Thailand. As other members of the crew ejected and, not having an ejection seat of his own, Randy had to wait for the navigator to eject and then climb down through the hole left behind to make his own jump. For this he and the crew were awarded the Purple Heart. Ask his son Kevin for the "rest of the story." In 1975 Randy was transferred to Blytheville AFB in Arkansas as a full colonel and the Wing, Director of Operations. He retired in September 1979. Other medals he was awarded included 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 14 air medals. Randy is survived by his son David Kevin Conner, his daughter Kathy and her husband Ken, his grandson Franklin Randolph Ventura and his wife Stephanie, his granddaughter Brandi Jade Ventura, 4 brothers-in-law, 4 sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Randy was preceded in death by his best friend and wife of 69 years Fay Johnston Conner who he eloped with on February 16, 1954. Also preceding him in death were his son Kerry Randolph Conner, 4 brothers, 3 sisters, 12 brothers-in-law, 10 sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews. Randy was a long-time member of the Bainbridge Church of Christ. Funeral Services will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 19th at the Memorial Funeral Directory in Princeton, West Virginia. Burial, with Military Honors presented by the Mercer County Veterans Honor Guard, will follow in the Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 17th from 4:00 p. m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Turner & Son Funeral Home in Hillsboro, Ohio and from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 19th at the Memorial Funeral Directory in Princeton, West Virginia. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc or www.memorialfd.com.