Conrad Ambress Binyon

Conrad (“Connie”) Binyon, 91, passed away November 12, 2022 in an Austin, Texas hospital. He was born January 30, 1931 in Los Angeles, California to William A. Binyon and Anna Dorothy (Zelichkovies) Binyon. Conrad had been living in Smithville, Texas since 2020 after moving from Encino, California (“Home of the Stars”), where he spent his first 45 years of retirement.

Conrad grew up around Hollywood, California and at a young age was active in films being registered with Central Casting as an extra. When it was discovered he could naturally repeat lines, he started doing "bits and parts" in films. He played in many "Our Gang" kid scenes, and in his young career worked with Cary Grant, Alan Ladd, Joseph Cotton, Hedy Lamarr, Elizabeth Taylor, Melvyn Douglas, Merle Oberon, Roddy McDowell, and many others as he moved into another facet of his entertainment career, radio.

Starting when he was eight years old and into his teens, Conrad performed roles in some the country’s top radio programs. He appeared regularly as "Hank" on "One Man's Family", "Butch" on "The Mayor of the Town", starring Lionel Barrymore and Agnes Moorehead, "Junior" on the "Life of Riley", starring William Bendix, and as little brother "Tad" on the Smilin' Ed McConnell Saturday morning children's show, "The Buster Brown Gang." In retirement, he became an honorary member of the Society to Preserve, Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy (SPERDVAC) and helped recreate some of the old radio shows for today's fans.

Conrad was interested in flying at an early age. He started flying lessons at thirteen, soloed at sixteen, and got his pilot's license at seventeen with his ambition to be a military pilot. He joined the California Air National Guard in 1948 as a crew member on various military airplanes. When the Korean War broke out in 1951, his Air Guard unit was called to active duty where he entered the US Air Force Aviation Cadet Program to earn his USAF pilot's wings as 2nd Lieutenant just as the Korean Conflict ended.

Conrad’s Air Force career spanned into the early 1970s. He served in various Air Commands seeing duty in Japan, France, Africa, the Azores, Hawaii, Alaska, Vietnam ground tour, and finally Florida before retiring with the rank of Major. He truly enjoyed his military career and was sorry when it ended, but continued to share his love of flying into retirement and with his comrades at the Los Angeles Quiet Birdmen Hangar.

Conrad is preceded in death by his dear wife, Cathy Jo Campbell and by his brother, Hugh Binyon. He is survived by Cathy’s niece, Cindy Ritchey, by Hugh’s children, Bambi Weinberg-Tuttle and Bryan Binyon, and by each of their families. Any memorial services will be limited to family members.