Kenneth Joseph O'Connor

Kenneth Joseph O’Connor was born September 4, 1948, at Glens Falls Hospital and died at home of leukemia October 15, 2025. He grew up in the Glens Falls area attending St. Alphonsus and then South High, class of ’67. As a young teen Ken was part of the bus ministry of First Baptist Church, South Glens Falls, NY and was born-again after hearing the preaching of Rev. Nevin Korb. He never looked back.

As a pre-med student of UVM Ken majored in Chemistry. He was then qualified to work in the medical device industry improving catheters and developing new devices at CRBard in Glens Falls, Ny and Billerica, MA. He then worked in the clean room industry with Contec of Spartanburg, SC and finally the sterilization of optical products at Bausch&Lomb, Pelham, SC.

In June 1970 Ken became engaged to Joan Palmer (of West Pawlet, VT) at the tennis courts in Queensbury. The following May they were married at First Baptist, South Glens Falls. Serving the Lord Jesus who was their Savoir from sin and the way to eternal life took first place in their lives. They helped with the bus ministry and children’s church together. Ken became a deacon in the churches they joined after moving to other states. He enjoyed teaching adult Sunday school. His favorite joys besides family time were baseball, golf, and tennis. On a mission trip to Haiti in 1988 the Lord opened his eyes to the need to support missions locally and around the world. Joan and he ministered among the Laotians in Fitchburg, MA and Camp Croft, SC.

Ken was predeceased by his mother and stepfather, Roberta (Morse) and Edgar Shaw of S. Glens Falls, his in-laws Reginald and Evelyn (Reeves) Palmer of West Pawlet, VT, and his nephew and niece David and Donna Willliams of Granville, NY.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan Palmer O’Connor; his children Karens (Scott) Gibson of Gaffney, SC and David O’Connor of Indian Land, SC; granddaughters, Abby and Hannah Gibson; a brother Daniel (Lori) O’Connor of Washington State; sister-in-law, Lois Palmer McKeighan of Granville, NY, her children, Dan (Sue) Williams and Debbie (Eugene) Williams. Other surviving family are sister-in-law Diane O’Connor (Hartford, NY) and her children Heather and Shawn, Dan’s daughters, Gabi (Cody) Howel, and Caitlin O’Connor; cousins Judy Ovitt (Randy) of Lake George, Howard (Susan) Ryder of Whitehall, and Eva (Michael) Mason of Pawlet, VT.

A visitation for friends and family will take place at Dunbar Funeral Home, 690 Southport Rd, Roebuck, SC on Monday, October 20, 2025, from 6pm-8pm. A graveside service will be Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 2pm held at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC led by Robert Emory.

In remembrance of Kenneth donations may be sent to United Baptist Church. PO BOX 160402, Boiling Springs, SC 29316 or to The Tim Tebow Foundation, 2220 Country Rd, 210 W Ste 108 PMB 317, Jacksonville, FL 32259 US (a form may be found online). If even one child is set free from the horrible child slavery business in America by Tim’s efforts it would be very comforting to the O’Connor-Gibson family,