Bobbye Jo LaFon Condron

Bobbye Jo LaFon Condron, a long-time Texas Panhandle resident who was born and lived in Clarendon, passed away Saturday, November 1, 2003, after a lengthy illness in Ventura, California.

She was 79 years old and was preceded in death by her husband Stuart, a graduate of West Texas State College and member of the faculty at Ventura (Calif.) College who died nine years ago. Stuart was a broadcaster for KGNC and KFDA Radio in Amarillo and a farmer and rancher in the area for many years. Bobbye is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

Bobbye was born in Clarendon, October 6, 1924. She attended school in Clovis, N.M., and graduated from high school in Canyon. She briefly attended West Texas State College. She worked with the War Department during World War II in Canyon.

She was the seventh child of Robert and Selma LaFon, descendants of early Texas panhandle pioneers who traveled from Kentucky to Texas in the early 1800s to farm the areas around Clarendon and Canyon. The LaFon family lived in Lelia Lake, a community near Clarendon, during the time around World War I. Both Robert and Selma LaFon and their daughter Bernice are buried in Clarendon.

Bobbye’s father in law, Dr. S.H. Condron, was Dean of Students at Clarendon College in the early 1900s and a long-time professor and head of the government department at West Texas State College. His wife and Bobbye’s mother-in-law, Mary, attended Clarendon College.

She was a certified Senior Escrow Officer for 25 years in California, worked in the art department at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and was a staff member at “Project Understanding,” an organization in Ventura that provides services for homeless people. She was a member of the College United Methodist Church in Ventura, where she was very active in church work serving as Senior Council member, Staff Parish Chairperson, and Church Secretary among other positions.

She and Stuart were members of several HAM Radio Clubs, including Poinsetta Amateur Club and Sam’s Hams Radio Club. They participated in several disasters, providing needed communication for emergency personnel during fires, earthquakes, and power outages throughout the California area.

Bobbye’s survivors include her children: Bob Condron and his wife B.J. from Colorado Springs, Colorado; Jan Mahoney and her husband Clark of Woodville, Texas; John Condron and his wife Kay of Santa Barbara; Mike Condron and his wife Laina of Santa Barbara; and Cindi Knight and her husband Rob of Ventura.

She’s also survived by sisters Roberta Currie of Amarillo, Edna Mae Beville of Maryland; brother Lowell LaFon of Albuquerque, N.M.; sister-in-law Marilyn Williams of Amarillo; nephews Jimmy Currie and wife Sondra and Dr. Hugh Bob Currie and wife Sandy of Amarillo.