Owen Bianconi

BIANCONI, OWEN - a father, grandfather, great grandfather and loving husband died, Saturday, November 12, after the full force of Veterans Day had honored him, at the Shannondale Retirement Community, in his beloved state of Tennessee. He was 90. He died of natural causes, said his wife of 64 years, Jennie Bianconi. Owen McGovern Bianconi was born June 18, 1921 in Nashville, Tennessee. He was the son of Susan Elizabeth McGovern and William Laurence Bianconi. He went to West End High School and The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He volunteered for the Air Force in August of 1942 wanting to make certain, ''they did not come over here''. He served in combat with the 498th Bombardment Squadron, ''The Falcons'', till the war ended, as a radio operator and gunner, based in the Philippines. After the war, he worked for TVA, Davis, Bradford & Corson, and The US Post Office. Mr. Bianconi was a caring and skilled manager of people. He worked for the Post Office until retiring in 1975. His passions included his family and sports. He loved his wife and family very much and often referred to his wife as Marilyn, for Marilyn Monroe, because he thought she was so beautiful. He was a very good horseback rider and swimmer. When watching the Vols play football, he spoke admiringly of General Neyland's tenure as the football coach. He said, '' Neyland would make the player who fumbled the ball carry it around the whole next week. You didn't want to be that guy''. His other passion was flying. He took lessons throughout his adult life to become an expert pilot. He was an expert marksman and served with the Air National Guard in Nashville. He loved the Nashville community, believed in community service, and contributed 17 gallons of blood over his donatable lifetime to the American Red Cross. He was the Good Samaritan. Besides his wife of 64 years, Jennie Bianconi, he is survived by four children, Suzanne Duffey of Montgomery, AL; Sam Bianconi of Nashville, TN; Mary Frances Restrepo of Columbus, OH; and David Bianconi of Knoxville, TN; one sister Marie Van Cleave, eleven grandchildren, one grandson who predeceased him and two great grandchildren. He had an incredible sense of humor and always made us laugh. He was the fairest man we will ever know. Receiving friends Tuesday, November 15, at 9:00 a.m. at the McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home in Maryville, TN, with a memorial service to follow at 10:00 a.m. Services will also be held in Nashville at a future date. www.mccammonammonsclick.com.