Born ‎06 Aug 1906 at Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States, died ‎07 Oct 1962 at Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States
Death certificate notes occured from 2nd floor window of private residence

Living in Revere, MA at the time‎, age 56 years, cause of death: Suicide, buried at Lyndon Center Cemetery, Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. Occupation: Office Manager (‎7 Oct 1962)

Franklin was my great-uncle and I man I never met.

As I wrote this an increasing number of states had legalized gay marriage. President Obama was just beginning his second term when he announced his support for gay and lesbian rights, following a tipping point in public opinion, and followed by a sea change of opinion by our elected officials. As I wrote this I wished I could reach into the past and bring Franklin back with me. You see, the “good ‘ole days” weren’t so good for my uncle. The so called greatest generation fought a just war overseas, only to return and go along with the long fought war against people who stood out as different. In my uncle’s case, it was people born inside a trap of shame, hiding, ridicule, harassment, and ugly prejudice due to sexual preference. From what I can tell half a century later, he was a funny, kind, loving and good man - but also a lonely, isolated, and gay man. He killed himself after half a century of life in his world.

The world we live in is far from perfect but for Franklin I think it would be a huge improvement. I can’t tell you with certainty why he killed himself, but I can’t help but wonder if his world was a big part of it, and my world might have saved him.

Born ‎17 Mar 1910 at Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States, died ‎20 May 1910 at Lyndonville, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States‎, age 2 months and 3 days, cause of death: Pertussis / Whooping Cough, buried ‎22 May 1910 at Lyndon Center Cemetery, Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States

Born ‎18 Apr 1911 at Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States, died ‎29 Nov 1976 at Danvers, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States‎, age 65 years, buried ‎30 Nov 1976 at Lyndon Center Cemetery, Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. Occupation: General Electric - Electrical Engineer

Graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in engineering.

According to Pauline...
Parents always thought he underachieved, took job below his degree. Dated a girl parents really liked, everyone thought they'd marry - but who he stopped seeing around the time he met grandma. At the time, everyone thought grandma was too aloof.

Had heart disease, died after severe stroke.

I remember not being allowed to go to his funeral. My only memory of him was when he installed a handle bar device on my bike. You twisted it and it would make a reving sound, like a motorcycle. I think it was called "Raw Power."

Address in Danvers: 1 Linden Dr, Danvers, MA, 01923-3516

Obit
Wendell B. Conner
Danvers, MA - Wendell B. Conner, 65, of 1 Linden Drive died Monday at Hunt Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of Elizabeth (Knights) Conner, formerly of Wardsboro, VT.
He was born in Lyndonville, VT, son of Willis and Florence Conner. A Massachusetts registered electrical engineer, he was a graduate of Northeastern University and worked 35 years for General Electric Co. in the instrument department at Lynn and the aerospace division in Wilmington, MA. He retired in 1971.
Mr. Conner was a frequent visitor to Vermont, especially Wardsboro and Vernon.
Besides his widow, he leaves a stepsister, Mrs. Pauline Christy of Winter Haven, FL; a daughter, Mrs Kathryn Kauffman of Billerica; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at Peterson's Funeral Home, Danvers, where friends may call this evening from 7 to 9.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Conner's memory may be made to the Heart Fund.

Obit:
Wendell B. Conner, 65, of 1 Linden Drive, husband of Mrs. Elizabeth (Knights) Conner, Died Monday evening in Hunt Memorial Hospital.
Born in Lyndon, VT, he was the son of the late Willis C. and Florence E. (Brown) Conner.
He received his education in the schools of Vermont and Florida and was graduated from Northeastern University.
A registered engineer, Mr. Conner had been employed by the General Electric Co., both in its West Lynn and Wilmington plants for 34 years.
He was a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 66, A.F. & A.M., in Lyndonville, VT, and the West Lynn Trowel Club.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. James W. (Katherine) Kauffman of Billerica; Two grandchildren, a step-sister, Pauline Conner Christy of Winter Haven, FL.
Funeral services were held today (Thursday) with the Rev. William U. Conway of the First Church of Danvers, Congregational, officiating.