Frank Pethel - Obituary

rank Colby Pethel, Jr., 81, a resident of Annapolis, MD for over 40 years died at his home on November 22, 2011. Born March 16, 1930 in Kannapolis, North Carolina, he graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a MS in Mathematics. Frank served in the U.S. Navy as an Electronics Technician, for four years. Frank was the President and founder of SYSTECH Corporation in 1969, located in Severna Park and Annapolis, Maryland. Mr. Pethel was engaged as a Registered Professional Engineering consultant on a national scale for over forty years. SYSTECH made major contributions in a broad field of communications systems. Of particular importance were the 911 systems and public safety communications systems that SYSTECH implemented throughout the United States and in Canada. The company offered clients of cities, counties, states, as well as the federal Government a diversity of systems expertly tailored to their needs. He was a Professional Engineer, registered in several states and was also a published author of several articles on communications systems. Frank served as a Deacon at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Annapolis and was a professional member of the IEEE, and the National Honor Fraternity, Blue Key. He was an avid tennis player and enjoyed boating and fishing and became interested in real estate and home construction after retirement. Frank is survived by his wife, Betty Pethel; one daughter, Michele Lee Cottrill of Annapolis; one son, David Matthew Pethel of Arnold; one sister, Lou Jean Correll of Kannapolis, NC; two grandsons, Benjamin Travis Colby Cottrill of Annapolis and Keith Colby of Pethel, Annapolis; one granddaughter, Elizabeth Grace Lee Cottrill of Annapolis; also survived by his mother, Josie Kathleen Pethel of Kannapolis, NC. A private family burial was held on December 2 at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Annapolis. A Memorial Service will be held at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church on December 10, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Frank’s honor to Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 710 Ridgely Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401.