Joni Lynne Conner, 71, of Lawrenceburg, KY, died on May 14, 2025. She is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Dorothy Rauch, her two older brothers, Roger and Ronald Rauch, and her first husband, Gregory Watkins. She is survived by her son, Justin Gregory Watkins, husband, John Conner, her niece, Robin Euler, nephew, Randy Rauch (spouse Mary Pat), and sisters-in-law, Betty Rauch and Patrica Rauch, and many great nieces and nephews.
Joni was born in Bowling Green, Ohio on December 13, 1953. She grew up in Bowling Green and graduated from Bowling Green High School in 1971. While in high school, she worked as an assistant at Dr. Jack Whittaker’s Dental Office. After graduation she attended Owens Community College in Perrysburg, OH and was part of the first Dental Hygiene Class, graduating in 1976. She continued working for Dr. Jack Whitaker until she moved to Houston, TX where she worked for about a year. Then she took a contract position as a hygienist in Kwajalein Island, in the Marshall Islands. She spent a couple years in Kwajalein Island and Hawaii before returning to the U.S. Upon returning, her parents had retired and moved to Haines City, Florida. Joni resumed her dental hygiene work in different dental offices in Winter Haven and St. Petersburg, Florida.
Joni met and married Gregory Watkins in 1989 and gave birth to their son, Justin Gregory Watkins, in May, 1990. Gregory Watkins passed away in 1990, and Joni raised Justin with the help of her parents until John Conner entered her life in 1993. John and Joni were married in November 1993 and lived in Tampa, Florida until 2002. John, Joni, Justin, and Joni’s mother, Dorothy, moved to the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area in 2002 and lived in Canonsburg. Dorothy passed in 2008, the same year Justin graduated high school. In 2014 John and Joni moved to the Frankfort Kentucky area, primarily to attend Faith Victory Church. In 2021 John and Joni changed their church affiliation to Life of Faith Bible Church, in Louisville, where Joni was a regular attendee until her death.
Joni’s greatest loves were for her church, family and friends. Joni was a prayer warrior, always thinking of others, bringing both her love and faith before the Lord. She was a caring and classy woman and was always ready to make the best of every day God granted to her. She had a strong sense of fashion and decorating with her home always showroom ready. She enjoyed scrapbooking and possessed meticulous penmanship, often crafting precious gifts for people. She will be greatly missed by many.
Joni’s memorial service will be Thursday, May 29, 5:30pm to 8:00pm at Life of Faith Bible Church, 14200 Spegal Lane, Louisville, KY. Visitation with the family is from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Pastor Stephen Fraiser will conduct a memorial service starting at 7:00pm. A second Celebration of Life Open House will be held on Saturday, June 7, 1:00pm to 4:00pm, at Beckett’s Burger Bar, 163 S. Main Street, Bowling Green, Ohio.
The family requests no flowers. Kind words for the family may be left at www.rogersfrankfort.com.
