Obituary: William Pike Conway, 90, Bardstown
William Pike Conway, 90, of Bardstown, chairman emeritus of Conway-Heaton Inc., the oldest automobile dealership in Kentucky, joined our loving God on Monday, April 18, 2016.
WILLIAM PIKE CONWAY
Born Sept. 16, 1925, he lived his entire lifetime in Bardstown, other than more than two years he spent in the South Pacific serving in the U.S. Marine Corp. during World War II.
His father, James F. Conway, opened the Ford dealership selling Model T cars in Bardstown in 1919. As a teenager, he spent lots of time working at the dealership which he always enjoyed. After WWII in 1946, he and his brother in law, Bob Heaton joined his father in the business. In 1968 they purchased 10 acres just north of the city limits to build a new dealership, where the fourth generation operates today.
He attended Bethlehem Academy and graduated from St. Joseph Preparatory School in 1944, and then joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After the war, he became very active in civic organizations in his beloved community, serving as chairman and director of Bardstown’s Chamber of Commerce, Flaget Memorial Hospital Board, Farmers Bank & Trust, Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus and President of the Kentucky Auto Dealers Association.
In 1978 he was selected as one of 10 regional representatives of the National Auto Dealers Association for the Time Magazine Quality Dealers’ Award which honors American car dealers for exceptional performance combined with distinguished community service. He served on several dealer boards of both Ford and Chrysler Corporation.
He was very active in his church and parish of St. Joseph and the Archdiocese of Louisville. He was honored in 1996 by the Catholic Education Foundation and served on finance and technology committees. In his later years he enjoyed volunteering at the Abbey of Gethsemani.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James F. and Norma Guinciliani Conway; two sisters, Jody Heaton and Kitty Wilson; and one brother, Jim Conway.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Marie Sympson Conway; one daughter, Ann (Greg) Blevins of Bardstown; three sons, Tony (Nancy) Conway, of Franklin, Tenn., and Bill (Cathy) Conway and Patrick (Julie) Conway, both of Bardstown; nine grandchildren, Matthew (Regina), Pikey (Sara), Katie, Michael (Kim), Maggie, Nicholas, and Christopher Conway, Carson and Marie Blevins; and three great-grandchildren, Michael “Junior,” Carter, and Elle Conway.
The Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Thursday, April 21, 2016, at the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, 2016, and 9-10:15 a.m. Thursday at Barlow Funeral Home, 2675 East John Rowan Boulevard, in Bardstown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be offered to Bethlehem High School or St. Joseph Parish School, 310 West Stephen Foster Avenue, Bardstown, KY 40004.
Barlow Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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