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Robert Patrick, a resident of Albuquerque since 1942, died from complications following a stroke on Sunday, May 30, 1999 at Presbyterian Hospice in Albuquerque with his family at his side. He was the son of Hugh Conway and Minnie Bell Ellis Conway of Clyde, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife, Nelle Conway, of the family home; five daughters and one son. His wife of 52 years, Helen Marie Smelich Conway, died in 1991 at the age of 80. A son, Captain Harold Joseph Conway, was killed in a plane crash in 1976 at the age of 27. Present family members include Patricia and William Barron of Honolulu, Flo Conway and Jim Siegelman of New York City, Bob Conway, Jr., his wife, Virginia and their children, Christine and Vincent of Albuquerque, Kathleen"Kacey" Conway and Patrick Green of Grand Junction, Colorado, Loretta Conway and John Mitchell, M.D. of Zionsville, PA, and Helen"Holly" Conway of Charlottesville, VA. Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday evening June 2, 1999 and a Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 833 Arizona, SE. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated Thursday morning, June 3, 1999 at 10:30 a.m. at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church with Msgr. Fred Stadtmueller, Fr. Albert Podvin and Fr. Joe Vigil, celebrants. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 5, 1999 at 10:30 a.m. at the Gate of Heaven, 7500 Paseo Del Norte, NE. R. P."Bob" Conway was a pioneering figure in the New Mexico insurance industry and in professional and charitable activities statewide and nationally. He was born October 26, 1914 on the family farm in southern Wisconsin, graduated from Dodgeville High School in 1932 and attended teacher's training school. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression years of 1933-34 and after leaving the CCC taught all eight grades in the country school he had attended as a child. In 1936, he moved to Arizona and worked for the Phelps Dodge Corporation in Ajo. In 1938, he was appointed a part-time agent for the State Farm Insurance Companies in Ajo and met Helen Smelich, a Registered Nurse from Pueblo, Colorado. He and Helen were married in 1939. In 1942, State Farm invited him to come to Albuquerque to develop the companys operations in northern New Mexico. The Conway Agency grew to 33 agents and in 1973, became the top producing district in the nationwide State Farm organization. The New Mexico Room at the American College of Life Underwriters in Bryn Mawr, PA is dedicated in his name. Bob was involved in fund raising for almost 60 years. He served as chairman for Catholic Charities in Albuquerque and headed the fund raising campaigns for the building of the Heights Catholic grade school and Pius X High School. In the 1950s and 1960s, his principal volunteer activity was the March of Dimes State Chairman. He was a founder of the New Mexico Independent College Association. He was active in the Serra Club for more than 40 years and served two terms as its President. He was a 40 Year Monarch of the Lions Club and in 1995 was named a Melvin Jones Fellow of the Lions Club International Foundation. With his wife, Helen, he founded the New Mexico Medic Alert Chapter. He was a member of the Republican Party and served as political action chairman for the state association. He was a long standing member of the Albuquerque Toastmasters Club and the Albuquerque Better Business Bureau. In 1974, he founded Conway Enterprises, a real estate development and management company. Since retiring from State Farm in 1984, he served as the Public Member of the New Mexico Board of Optometry and on the Governor's Distinguished Service Public Service Awards Committee. He was a founder and president of the NM Roadrunner Chapter of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni. He was a life member of the BPOE, The Knights of Columbus and The Knights of St. Gregory. In August, 1992, he married Nelle McElravy, of Cherry Hills, Colorado. Bob loved New Mexico from the day he set foot on its soil. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and all who knew him. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to the Robert P. Conway Memorial Education Fund, c/o The Catholic Foundation, 2201 San Pedro, NE, Bldg 2, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Arrangement by the French Mortuary, 7121 Wyoming, NE.
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