V.C. Conner, 87, died Monday, Nov. 4, 2013.

Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Friday in St. Martin Catholic Church with Father Rex Nicholl as celebrant. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St.

V.C. Conner was born Nov. 25, 1925, in Wichita Falls to Rosetta Witherspoon. Upon moving to Amarillo, he attended Patton High School and later enlisted in the Navy in 1944. He served during World War II and received an honorable discharge in 1947.

He worked for Amarillo Country Club as a head waiter for a number of years and also as a custodian for corporate offices and private homes until his retirement.

He participated with Knight of Columbus and Shriners.

During his active years he loved to tell jokes, party and have fun. He was well-versed in several foreign languages, which earned him the name China man.

V.C. supported and participated in many community functions sponsored by St. Martin Church.

He was preceded in death by his mother; four brothers, Carl Witherspoon, J.T. “Monkey” Witherspoon and wife Dorothy, Allen Witherspoon and Willie Witherspoon; two sisters, Maggie Porter Campbell and husband Cordell and Betty “Dutch” Witherspoon.

Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years, Earma Lee Conner of Amarillo; a brother, the Rev. Osborne Witherspoon of Terrell; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Witherspoon and husband Carl of San Francisco and Dorothy Witherspoon and husband Allen of Wichita Falls; a son, Vernon Conner and wife LaVern; a special daughter, Elizabeth Conner Gipson of Amarillo; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.