FORT WORTH – Allen Bernard “Bernie” Connolly II, 93, passed away in his sleep at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning (1/24/2026), with his wife, Marge, at his bedside. Bernie had been suffering from the effects of MDS cancer and congestive heart failure; so, he was ready to be with his Lord and to be reunited with his family and friends who had predeceased him. He is greatly missed, but we are comforted by many beautiful memories and his expressed faith in Jesus as his Savior. Funeral Service: 2:30 p.m. Monday, February 9, 2026, in Greenwood’s Live Oak Chapel, 3100 White Settlement Rd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Bernie was born to Nancy and Allen Connolly in Evansville, IN on May 25th, 1932. He had an older sister Carole. Bernie’s childhood in his beloved Evansville, was filled with many family gatherings and play days with cousins and friends which instilled in him a lifelong desire to continue having his family and friends around him. Bernie married his Bosse High School sweetheart and love of his life, Margaret Diane “Marge” Connolly, and their marriage lasted more than 73 blissful years. Bernie was on his high school’s golf and basketball teams, while Marge was voted the school’s basketball queen. We have a picture of him crowning her queen at center court during halftime of one of his basketball games. His high school’s Senior Class voted him “Most Sincere”, which we still consider very fitting for him. Bernie received a 4-year scholarship to play basketball for Evansville College. He also played for the golf team and was elected President by the college’s student body. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He also completed the school’s Air Force ROTC program and was commissioned as an active duty Second Lieutenant and entered undergraduate pilot training. After 3 years earning his Pilot wings, Bernie transitioned to Air Force Reserve Duty and worked at a large accounting firm. He later joined his father’s sales business. He was recalled to Air Force active duty during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and ultimately served 23+ years. During that period, he served 1 year piloting C-130’s in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he had the honor of flying Bob Hope and his entire entertainment troupe for a Christmas performance for soldiers. After his return from war, he continued flying C-130’s while also serving 4 years as an Associate Professor of ROTC at Princeton University; he even made time to complete his master’s in business administration from nearby Rider University. Subsequent Air Force assignments included: Director of Personnel Management, Squadron Commander of Personnel, Services Squadron Commander, and Organization Commander (as a Deputy Base Commander). For his Air Force service, he was awarded: 9 medals, 18 devices, 2 ribbons, 1 Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation, and 1 Air Force Presidential Unit Citation. After retiring honorably from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel, Bernie completed his career working as a Financial Advisor with A.G. Edwards in Fort Worth, TX. Bernie did numerous charitable and volunteer works throughout his life, including overseeing the American Boy Scouts in England, working as a CASA advocate for vulnerable children, and serving as President of his Neighborhood Association. He acquired faith in his Lord Jesus in the last quarter of his life and attended Arborlawn United Methodist Church regularly, loved his Sunday School class, made it a point to read the Bible from cover to cover, and made what he considered to be a very spiritual trip to Israel. Bernie was widely regarded as being exceptionally social and friendly, and especially loved playing bridge with many good friends. Bernie was very much a family patriarch and took great pride and interest in the wellbeing of his family. Bernie was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was always loving, supportive, kind, caring, giving, and funny. He is greatly missed by all his family. Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, Nancy and Allen Connolly; his sister and brother-in-law, Carole and Jerry Quist; and his son-in-law, Mario Peraldo. He is survived by his wife, Marge; his four children, Lynn Peraldo, Scott (Ann Connolly), Judy (Bob Cox), and Mark (Lisa Connolly); his nine grandchildren, Gina (Matt Gottschalk), Melissa (Job Tibay), Vanessa (Tim Koepsell), Michelle, Jason (Lauren Connolly), Andrew (Emily Cox), David (Georgia Cox), Rachel, and Megan; and his 11 great-grandchildren, Jordan, Jacob, Kaisley, Forrest, Molly, Otis, Olivia, Mae, Matteo, Isabella, and Rory. GREENWOOD FUNERAL HOME Greenwood Funeral Homes – Cremation 3344 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-336-0584

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