Martha Joan Conn's Obituary
Martha “Marty” Conn of Culpeper, Virginia, formerly of Fairfax, Virginia and Mckeesport Pennsylvania, was a wonderful person who lived a life filled with love, a passion for writing, and had a long history of service to others. Marty passed away at home on June 4th, 2020 with her husband, Bill, as always, by her side. Married in 1953, Marty and Bill would have celebrated their 67th anniversary this December.
Marty was born in Mckeesport, Pennsylvania in 1935 and graduated Salutatorian from Mckeesport High School in 1953, where she excelled in speech, debate and writing. She always said, that she would have graduated Valedictorian, had she not met Bill during her senior year. The couple met while Bill was teaching Marty's brother, Bob, to fly. While they were dating, Bill would take Marty flying in an Aeronca Chief and she soon found herself at the controls of the airplane, learning to fly as well. Although Marty didn't choose to pursue a flying career, her life always involved aviation, which is expected when you marry a pilot. She even authored the book, “Crazy to Fly”, about a life full of airplanes.
Education was always very important to her and she attended Muskingum College in Concord, Ohio. She married Bill during winter break of her freshmen year. It was a very difficult being the only married freshman at the school. She worked in food service for the school to help defray the costs. Bill was commuting from Mckeesport to see her on weekends while working both as a corporate pilot and a tool technician in a machine shop. While money may not have been plentiful, their love was strong. Her studies were put on hold when Bill landed a job as a pilot for Capitol Airways in April, 1955. That same month, they welcomed the arrival of their first born, Richard (Rick). After a short time in Pittsburgh, the airlines moved Bill to the Washington, DC domicile, so the family took up residence in Fairfax, Virginia. Marty had two more sons, Robert (Rob) in 1959 and David (Dave) in 1964. While raising her children, Marty continued to write and earned a degree from George Mason University in education. She had two books and countless magazine articles published. She was also very active in her church, St Georges United Methodist in Fairfax, a place that became even more important when her son, Rob, passed away in a car accident on February 14, 1975. Although tragic, the incident drew the Conn family even closer together. Once their other children were grown, the couple moved to a flying community in Culpeper, Virginia, complete with a grass runway and hangar. With Marty's full support, Rick and Dave pursued careers as pilots.
Throughout her adulthood, Marty led a life of service to others. This included transporting patients to medical appointments for FOCUS, driving for Meals-on-Wheels, reading for Books for the Blind, teaching Sunday school at St Georges United Methodist Church, (and later Culpeper United Methodist Church), helping staff the gift shop at the Flying Circus (where her husband and sons flew). She also served for a number of years as a volunteer for Hospice in Culpeper, a gift which came full circle when she entered Hospice care prior to her passing. The Hospice admitting nurse remembered working with Marty and recalled how the office would 'light up when Marty came in to work'. Even in Marty's weakened state, she recognized her former co-worker and smiled. She would be in hospice care less than a week. Marty and Bill shared a strong love and witnessed, by example, what marriage could and should be. As they always did, right up until the time when Marty was just too frail to communicate, they shared 'I love you' back and forth.
Marty will be sorely missed by Bill as well as her children Rick and Dave, daughters-in-law, Amy and Terry, grandchildren Lauren, Rachel, Brent, Rory, Elly and great grand daughter Charlotte. She will be especially missed for her incredible hospitality, blueberry pancakes, cinnamon toast, Easter egg dyeing, and Tripoley and Sorry game playing. Her moped riding (and crashing) skills, however, won't be missed at all.
The family wishes to thank her wonderful caregivers, Hospice of the Piedmont, and neighbors and friends who have been so supportive and kind.
A memorial service will be in consideration once conditions permit.
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