Lt. Comdr. Raymond Foster Conklin, son of Foster H. and Maude A. Shadley Conklin, was born in Osawatomie, Kansas, August 2, 1916. He grew up in Osawatomie graduating from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1933.

He attended Fort Scott junior college, Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg and then Kansas University where he received his B.S. degree in 1938. He began law school at KU in 1938, completed two years and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy on November 15, 1940. His assignment was in the air corps where he earned his wings and the rank of ensign on August 15, 1941 at Jacksonville, Florida.

He served in the South Pacific on the aircraft carrier Wasp and was on duty there when she was sunk during the island invasions. After thirty months in the Pacific he returned to the states and was assigned to different carriers as a fighter pilot. Following the close of WW2 he was assigned to the carrier Boxer for the China cruise in 1946. His assignments included San Diego and Monterey, California and Corpus Christi, Texas.

In August 1951 he was appointed commanding officer of Squadron VF-24 at Santa Rosa, California. The squadron has been undergoing intensive training for Korean warfare and was using the desert territory near Fallon, Nevada for additional flight experience. While commanding such a training mission on January 24, 1952 the instrument panel of his jet fighter froze causing his plane to crash into the side of a 6,000 foot mountain.

That Raymond Conklin was an excellent naval officer is attested by his steady advancement in grades when in October 1945 he was made Lieutenant Commander. His citations also demonstrate both his skill and his courage-for he was awarded the Navy Cross for Distinguished Service, two Air Medals and was recently honored with the Silver Star.

He loved his family and friends, treasured time at home and was an avid sportsman. He played catcher on baseball teams in high school, college and in the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed golf, swimming, tennis and bird hunting. A natural at debate, he participated on teams in high school and college.

He is survived by his parents, his wife, Fern Conklin; and three daughters: Judy Mary 8, Nicki Rae 6, and Connie Lynn, 18 months old.

Funeral services were held February 10 at the First Methodist Church in Osawatomie with the pastor, Rev. William I. Hastie and Lieut. Commander W. W. Herrin, U. S. Naval Reserve Chaplain corps, officiating.