F. Leighton Fennell Obituary (1921 - 2018)

F. Leighton Fennell, 97, of Cabot, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 11, 2018 at the Concordia Lutheran Ministries. He was born February 8, 1921 in Butler, Pennsylvania to the late Floyd R. Fennell and the late Ola Anthony Fennell. Leighton was a graduate of Butler Area High School. He went on to receive a degree in Television Engineering from Capitol Radio Engineering Institute in Washington DC. Leighton worked for 5 years as a Television Engineer in Washington, DC and Pittsburgh, followed by working as a printer for 31 years for the Butler Eagle, retiring in 1986. He was a veteran of the US Navy, serving during WWII on the USS Allen and on Midway Island. Mr. Fennell was a member of First United Methodist Church, a lifetime member of Butler Amateur Radio Association, as well as a member of American Radio Relay League, Tanglewood Senior Citizen Group, AARP, MORA Club, the Methodist Men of Nixon UM Church, and Asbury Sunday School Class. He was a ham radio operator since April 1939 with the call letters W3TIG and enjoyed dancing and church activities. He is survived by his two daughters, Carole Keck of Saxonburg, PA, and Joyce Fennell of Butler, PA; three grandchildren, Steven Keck, Erin Oberst and her husband Dan, and Mark Keck; sister, Phyllis Stutz Heaton of Butler, PA; brother-in-law, Wendell Burtner; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Christie Fennell, whom he married on May 9, 1952 and who passed away on March 5, 1994; brother, Alan Fennell; son-in-law, Vernon Keck; and three sisters, Elaine Newcaster, Shirley Hepting Edwards, and Beryl Rectanus. Friends will be received Thursday, September 13, 2018, 6 - 9 pm & Friday, September 14, 2018, 10 - 11 am at Thompson - Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street Butler, PA. A Funeral Service will be held immediately following on Friday, September 14, 2018, 11am at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home Inc., 124 East North St. Butler, PA, with Pastor Barbara Stoehr of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Military Honors will be conducted at the funeral home by Officers and Members of the American Legion Post #117, Butler, American Legion Post #778, Lyndora, and VFW Post #249, Butler. Private Burial will take place in the Butler County Memorial Park. Memorial donations are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., Butler, PA 16001 or to the Butler County Special Olympics, PO Box 2561, Butler, PA 16003-2561.