Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-10-27
LOCAL men DIE
IN PLANE CRASH
CONTINUED from Page II

viz SAOhP'
Young and Bork said they hear'
the plane circling in the dense
fog, at what appeared to be Low
altitude. The witnesses believed
the pilot was looking for the
Smetzer airport, which is les'
than a mile from the crash scene
Circling lower and lower, the
plane just missed two trees anC
lnen proved nose first into tn,
ground, Young said. The plane
apparently loaded fully with gaso
line for the long trip, bust into
roaring flames. Flash bulbs, in
Conner's supply, burst intermit
tently from the heat.
A fire truck from Sandusky was
sent to the scene. Investigating
were sheriffs' departments from
both Erie and Sandusky counties,
state highway partolmen of the
Bay Bridge station, and Civil Air
Authority agents.
Young said he glanced at his
watch and that the plane crashed
at 1910. Conner'S wrist watch
stopped at 1920. Conner was
identified temporarily at the
scene through a metal social Sc
curity tag. Budd's body was iden-
tilted later through wrist watch
band.
The bodies were removed to the
Mitchell funeral home in Clyde
and later brought to Port Clinton.
Both victims of the crash were
prominent members of the Port
Clinton Rotary Club, with Budd
being trustee this year and Con-
ner serving on the Youth Com
mittee. At the requests of the
Budd and Conner families, plans
for the Rotary Ladies Night pro-
gram, planned for Wednesday.
were not cancelled.
Averill Budd had been a private
pilot for the past IL years and
had owned a plane for the past
few years. He was known as an
expert flier, and his plane and pi-
lots ability were often used by
his brother, Sheriff Merlan Budd,
in lake and bay searches for miss
ing people.
Averill E. Budd was born Sept.
18, 1900, in Harrison, Michigan,
and was a son of w. M. and Minnie
Budd. He was so years, one
month and four days of age when
he was killed.
Budd was 25-year jewel mem
ber of the Port Clinton Knights
OF PythiaS Lodge, and also was a
member of the Rotary Club and
Moose Lodge, as we'll as Northern
Ohio Flying clubs. He had owned
and operated the Budd Automo-
tive Service in this city for many
years.
In recent months, Budd had
made numerous stage appearances
with his talented young daugh-
ter, 10 Ann Budd, who is an ac-
complished balance artist.
Surviving are the widow, Mrs.
Edith Budd; three daughters, Miss
Ards Budd, Penny Sue Scott and
10 Ann Budd, all of Port Clinton:
the parents, Mr.. and Mrs. w. M.
Budd, Lake George, Michigan;
and three brothers, Kenneth and
Elvin Budd, Harrison, Michigan,
and Sheriff Merlan Budd, Port
Clinton.
Funeral services were held on
Tuesday afternoon in the Nei-
decker Funeral Home, the Rev.
l.. G. Miller of Trinity Methodist
Church officiating. Burial was
in Riverview Cemetery under di-
rection of the Neidecker staff.
c. Gordon Conner was born
July l, 1921, in North Baltimore,
Ohio, a son of Mr.. and Mrs. Glenn
Conner, now of Port Clinton. He
moved to this city with his fam
lily and attended local schools, and
was a graduate of Port Clinton
High School.
Conner and his wife, the for
mer Ruth Elizabeth Betty" Frye,
were owners of the Conner Cam
era & Hobby Shop, the firm they
established and recently moved
to larger quarters in West Second
street.
Gordon Conner was an active
member of the Port Clinton Ro-
tary Club and of numerous state
and national camera organiza-
lions.
Surviving are the widow, Ruth
Elizabeth; parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Glenn Conner, and four brothers,
Robert, Francis, Phillip and Low
ell Conner, all of Port Clinton.
A fellow Rotarian, Rev. John
Braun, of ST. John Lutheran
church, officiated at funeral serv-
ices held Tuesday afternoon in the
Gerner & Wolf Funeral Home.
Burial was in Union Cemetery, FL
more, with Gerner & Wolf direct
ing.