James Allan O'Connor Jr Obituary (1943 - 2015)

James Allan "Professor" O'Connor Jr.crossed over peacefully on April 21 in Galveston, Texas at the age of 71. Allan was born on December 14, 1943 at the military base in Fort Worth, TX., where his parents, Allan O'Connor Sr. and Gertrude Daack O'Connor were stationed before his father was deployed to China as a bomber pilot during WWII. The family returned to their home town of Ponca City where Allan was raised and trained in the family's meat packing business. In 1973, he married Glenda Ganz and moved their newly blended family to Texas. After a brief stay in Corpus Christi, they settled in Pasadena, TX. There, he worked many years as a journeyman meatcutter. He left the industry in the early 1980s to return to college and prepare for his next career. He earned a degree in computer science at the University of Houston. He went on to teach computer science and technology at the college level until his health forced him to retired in 1998. Allan was a music lover. He excelled at playing many instruments and spent his retirement years composing several critically acclaimed pieces inspired by his love of the Gulf Coast region. His love of coastal living began at an early age fueled by beautiful memories of family vacations and fishing with his father. Time off during his working years would often find him camping, fishing and boating around Galveston with his family. Allan is preceded in death by his wife, Glenda Ganz O'Connor of Pasadena, TX and Ponca City, OK, his parents, Allan O'Connor Sr., Gertrude Daack O'Connor, and his infant brother, Patrick Michael O'Connor, of Ponca City, OK. He is survived by his daughter, Patrice O'Connor Hebert and her husband, Brett, of Galveston, his son, James O'Connor III and his wife, Debra, of Corry, PA, his sister, Karen O'Connor Baker and her husband, Steve, of Kingwood, TX, stepchildren Randy O'Connor and his wife, Mercy of Oro Valley, AZ, Ganece Sands and her husband, Kevin, of Tulsa, OK, Terri Herrman of Tulsa, OK, and Bryan Henderson and his wife, Malissa, of Katy, TX, grandchildren Tia Henderson, Devin Nanni, Ashleigh Henderson, Sean O'Connor, Shayla Hebert, Donovan O'Connor, Malia O'Connor, Austin O'Connor, Connor Hebert, and Patrick Hebert, nieces Erin McKay and Lindsey Baker, and nephew Colin Baker. A memorial wake is scheduled for 2pm, Saturday, May 9 at 1407 Broadway in Galveston, TX. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Allan's life. A graveside ceremony in Ponca City, OK will also be scheduled and announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite charity in Allan's name. Condolences can be left on this website or sent to Allan's home at 1826 65th St., Galveston, TX 77551. The family would like to thank the caring faculty, staff, and students at UTMB's John Sealy Hospital for the loving care and total dedication they showed to our father in his final days.