Mr. Harold H. McConnell

April 17, 1918 - January 13, 2015

Harold H. McConnell, 96, of North Vernon, passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at Four Seasons Retirement Center in Columbus.

Harold was born on April 17, 1918, in Seymour, Indiana, to Thomas H. and Nell Kennison McConnell, the second of four children. He grew up in Bedford, Indiana. He moved to Indianapolis after high school to earn money to attend Indiana University.

He served in the Army in WWII fighting in the 70th Division in Belgium, France and Germany. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, for meritorious service under hostile fire. Due to his keen intellect, he was nominated for and completed the Army Specialized Training Program at Bard College in New York.

After the war, he returned to Indiana University where he finished his Law degree and was admitted into the Indiana Bar Association December 7, 1948.

In Indianapolis, he met the love of his life, Jackie Cunningham. They were married June 18, 1949, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Lafayette, Indiana. After stints in Indianapolis; Galveston, Texas; and Fort Wayne, they settled in North Vernon, Indiana, where they raised their seven children.

He was a Charter Member of the IUPUC Board of Advisors for over 30 years and an active benefactor of the school. He held many leadership positions in Jennings County, including head of the Jennings County Cancer Fund, City Attorney for the City of North Vernon, Jennings Count School Board Attorney, and Chairman of the Board of the Union Bank & Trust Company. He was also a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, Indiana Bar Foundation, and American Trial Lawyers Association.

He was a true gentleman scholar, a life-long lover of music and of all things French. He was notoriously open-minded, and intellectually curious. He always had a witty story or bon mot to share with a twinkle in his eye.

He leaves behind son John; daughters, Lucy Burns (Leo), Kathy Lockhart (Bob), Annette Sanford (Scott) and Mary Doshay (Marc). He will also be missed by his seven grandchildren, Vicki, Nate, Tom, Michael, Rachel, Miles and Monica. And his many nieces and nephews will always remember Uncle Mac affectionately.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jackie and sons Tom and Brian.

Funeral Information

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, January 17, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in North Vernon. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Friday, January 16, 2015, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral Home. Interment will be at Vernon Cemetery. A Rosary will begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, to support Jennings County students who wish to attend IUPUC, donations can be made to IU Foundation c/o IUPUC Harold McConnell Scholarship. Call 812-375-7537 for more information.