Byron D. Conroe, IBM, CIA retiree
Byron David Conroe, 86, of Ocean View, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family Friday, Aug. 23, 2013 at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford.
He was born in Binghamton, N.Y., Dec. 5, 1926, son of the late George Edward and Catherine May (Loucks) Conroe. He lived a few doors away from his future wife and lifeguarded at the local river.
Byron was a World War II Army Veteran and served in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he worked at IBM for 30 years. With IBM, he helped to develop national defense early warning systems and worked on the NASA Apollo Moon missions. Byron also worked for the CIA for 15 years. While serving his country, he had the opportunity to travel the world and live abroad. Byron and his wife retired to Ocean View where he loved to spend time with his grandchildren and friends.
He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post 7234 of Quillen’s Point in Ocean View and the VFW in Ocean View. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in New York and the CIA Retirement Group.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Beverley Jane Conroe; and two brothers, Edward George and Morris Blaine Conroe.
He is survived by his sister, Ruth Conroe Quick of Binghamton; children, David E. Conroe and his wife Catherine of West Virginia, Diane R. Tarpley and her husband Robert of Germantown, Md. and Gregory B. Conroe and his wife Annmarie of Dagsboro; 10 grandchildren, David, Stephen, Kevin, Bobby, Christina, Nicole, Brittany, Heather, Jennifer and Ashley; and two great0grandchildren, Hunter and Savannah.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 30, at 11:30 a.m. at the Ocean View Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, where friends may call after 10:30 a.m. Burial with military honors will be at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Byron’s name to the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963 or Tunnell Cancer Center, 18941 John J. Williams Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
