James C. Condon, 79, Versailles, passed away at 1:27 a.m. May 30, 2013, at Miami Valley Hospital.

He was born April 8, 1934, in Dayton, to Russell E. and Clara Stocker Condon. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jenny Siefring Condon.

Also surviving are his children, Brian (Barb) Condon, Krista (Charlie) Krueger, Mary Beth (Dave) Berger and Kelly (Brian) Trump, all of Versailles; 18 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers and sister, Fred (Roberta) Condon, Dick (Angie) Condon, Bob (Becky) Condon and Marcia (Chuck) Meiring; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Rita Condon, his sister, Maria, and a grandson, Nathan Condon.

He was raised in West Milton and moved to Versailles in 1945. Upon graduation in 1952 from Parker Vocational High School in Dayton, he worked at the Frigidaire Division of GM and joined the Ohio Air National Guard.
   He joined the United States Air Force in October 1954 and entered the Aviation Cadet Program at Ellington AFB in Houston. Upon graduation in December 1955, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and received his Navigator/Bombadier Wings. During his career he flew B-47 and B-52 bombers, amassing 6,000 flying hours. He flew 126 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He was shot down over Hanoi, North Vietnam, on Dec. 28, 1972, was captured, and spent 91 days as a Prisoner of War. From 1973 to 1978, he attended Air War College in Alabama and served on the staff of 15th Air Force in California. After his retirement in 1978, he and his family moved to Versailles. During his combined 26 years of service, he received many awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, POW Medal and the Air Medal w/5 Oak Leaf Clusters.
   He and his wife owned and operated The House of Flowers in Versailles for 19 years. During this time, he was very active in the community. He served a term on village council; was on the board of the Versailles Development Association and the Poultry Days Committee, serving as chairman in 1983; and was one of the founders of and served on the board of Heritage Park.

He was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church, the Versailles Lions Club, the Versailles Area Historical Society, a Golden Eagle Member of the Versailles Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2347, the Versailles Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, the Darke County Disabled American Veterans and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Denis Catholic Church, the Rev. David Vincent celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Valbert Cemetery in Versailles, with military graveside services by the Versailles Veteran's Honor Guard.

Calling is 2-7 p.m. Sunday and 9-10 a.m. Monday at Bailey Zechar Funeral Home in Versailles.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Wounded Warrior Project, Versailles Vet's Club, or Versailles Emergency Medical Services.

Condolences may be left at www.zecharbailey.com.