Richard Charles Condra, loving husband, father and grandfather, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. He was born on Dec. 30, 1930, in Jeffersonville, Ind., to Russell P. and Lillie B. Condra. Richard graduated from Deshler High School in Tuscumbia, Ala., and then served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. On May 23, 1954, he married Norma Sue Wheeler, his high school sweetheart, who preceded him in death on Oct. 5, 2012.
Richard was a broadcast engineer for more than 43 years at WMC-TV and was awarded a Silver Circle Award for his professional achievements by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in August 1998.
Deeply devoted to his family, he leaves behind two daughters, Jan Berry (Jeff) and Lauri Patterson (Keene) and four grandchildren: Justin Patterson (Christine), Lesley Patterson, Sarah Berry and Emily Berry. His first great-grandchild, Rowan Keene Patterson, is due Feb. 1. He is also survived by his sister, Marilyn Spurgeon, two brothers, Russell Condra and Carl Condra, all of Alabama, and was preceded in death by a sister, Norma Maloney.
Visitation began at 9 a.m., followed by funeral services at 10 a.m. on Jan. 13 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery in Memphis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
