| Show dr N J W mcconkie dies in minnesota J 4 1 71 1 DR JAMES McCON mcconkie XIE succumbs 10 lo polio dr james wilson mcconkie 32 prominent musician and composer and active church worker died early friday in minneapolis minn of polio professor of music at the university of minnesota for the past two years dr mcconkie is a son of mr and mrs oscar W mcconkie of salt lake city at the time of his passing he president of the minnesota district of the north central states mission of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints he was married to gwen Wirth liri a daughter 0 of f president bishop and mrs joseph L and the couple had three children all of whom survive james II 11 a seven year old son is recovering from a severe polio attack prominent musician dr mcconkie was a prominent and accomplished musician and the composer of a number of musical compositions which have received wide acclaim one of these was presented by the salt lake tabernacle choir on a recent C B S broadcast and a number have been featured by the famed cecilian singers of minneapolis dr mcconkle mcconkie was the conductor of this group an organization of vocalists which sings with the minneapolis symphony orchestra james wilson mcconkie was born jan 24 1921 in moab utah and has resided in salt lake city until recently he began to sing with the tabernacle choir when 14 years of age and received his bachelors degree in piano from the mccune school of music and art when 18 and his masters degree in composition when 19 U graduate lie he graduated from the uni hersity of utah and then received a second masters degree and his doctorate at columbia university in new york city there after he studied in france at the paris conservatory of music for a year under a Ful fulbright loright scholarship dr mcconkle mcconkie has always been active in the church from 1940 to 1942 he served as a missionary in the new england mi mission s while he was studying in new york city he was in the bishopric of the manhattan ward and while he studied in france he served in the presidency of the paris branch before being chosen to preside over the minnesota district of the north central states mission he had served in a district presidency of that mission served in A F he served in the air force during world war II 11 as a member of a bomber crew his crew completed a full quota of flights over germany and and on one occasion sion had their plane shot down with the crew members parachuting to safety dr mcconkie married gwen in the salt lake temple on may 16 1944 and ant their children are james II 11 age seven kathleen age four and michele age two in addition to his wife children and parents he is survived I 1 by four brothers and one sister elder bruce R of the first counsel of the seventy F briton oscar jr and william R mcconkle mcconkie all of salt lake city and margaret M pope of bountiful utah funeral services are tentatively scheduled in salt lake city agor wednesday aug 26 in the ward chapel 2nd and avenue at G street |
