Notes for Frank Allen THURTELL

Thurtell and Related Families Thurtell and Related Families

Notes for Frank Allen THURTELL

Frank and Frances Thurtell attended the August 1999 Thurtell Family Reunion in Cleveland, New York. During the reunion Frances recalled that Frank Thurtell was in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to about 1974, when he retired as a Captain. He then worked for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) until he retired from that job in about 1986. They moved to Annapolis, Maryland, in 1988. She had lived in that area in the 1940's.

He is listed on an internet page as of 1999 at http://home.att.net/~goodye/officer.htm as Frank A. Thurtell, Executive LCDR, of the U.S.S. Cobbler SS344 in January 1957.

Frank Thurtell was listed as a senior active member of the Rotary Club of Annapolis, Maryland, on their web site at http://annapolisrotary.com/members.htm as of 1999. This showed his profession as "Nuclear Power/Federal Govt."

Frank Thurtell died from a heart attack on February 5, 2000, in Annapolis, Maryland. His obituary from the "Annapolis Capital Newspaper," February 8, 2000, found on the internet at http://www.hometownannapolis.com on February 8, 2000, stated, "Frank Thurtell. Retired Navy Capt. Frank Allen Thurtell, 77, of Annapolis, died of cardiac arrest Feb. 5 at Anne Arundel Medical Center after a brief illness. Born in Bellevue, Neb., Capt. Thurtell joined the Navy immediately after graduation from high school and was at Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Medusa during the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941. He was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1943, graduating in 1946 with the Class of 1947. After serving on several ships, including a tour as skipper of the USS Darter, he was selected for nuclear power school. After graduation, he served on several nuclear submarines, including duty as commanding officer of USS Proteus. His last duty before retirement was at Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb. From 1975 to 1986, he was employed by the Omaha Public Power District as nuclear quality control manager. He moved to Annapolis in 1988. He was a member of the Annapolis Rotary Club and the Naval Academy Golf Association. His interests were golf and yard work. Survivors include his wife of 53 years Frances Wade Thurtell; one son, James Vann Thurtell of Dallas, Texas; two brothers, Bernard Thurtell of Iowa and Dale Thurtell of Brighton, Colo.; two sisters, Florence Irving and Thelma Friend of Friendship, Idaho; and two grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Hardesty Funeral Home, 12 Ridgely Ave. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Andrew's Chapel at the Naval Academy. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Anne Arundel County Division, 7240 Parkway Drive, Suite 360, Hanover, MD 21076." An e-mail from his nephew, Anthony W. (Bill) Barnett confirmed that he was born in Platner, Colorado, not Bellevue, Nebraska - this was an error in the obituary.

An e-mail from his nephew, Anthony W. (Bill) Barnett sent February 7, 2000, advised relatives that "Frank A. Thurtell, died at his home in Annapolis, MD, early Saturday morning, February 5th, from a fatal heart attack. His wife, Frances, is arranging for the burial today (Monday). The funeral services will be held at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. The exact day and time of the service is unknown at this time. You met Frank and Frances at the 1999 Thurtell reunion. Frank was a Captain in the US Navy. He joined the service in February of 1941 and retired in August of 1974. He was at Pear Harbor during the
Japanese Attack on 12/07/41. After that, he fought in the South Pacific until winning a Presidential Appointment to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1943. After graduation from the Naval Academy he then joined the Submarine Service. During his career he served aboard the Sea Lion, Conger, Cobbler, Darter, Thomas Jefferson, Calhoun and Von Steuben. He was either the Executive officer or the Captain while aboard many of these Submarines. Later he joined the staff of COMSUBFLOT SIX. After retirement from the US Navy in 1974 he and his family moved to Omaha, NE. While in Omaha, he was the Chief Nuclear Engineer for the Omaha Public Power District. When he retired from the Omaha Power
District in 1988, he and Frances settled back in Annapolis (Annapolis is where he met and married Frances while at the Academy and where Frances's family lived). Frances's telephone number is 410-757-7952. Her address is: 341 Martins Cove Road, Annapolis, MD 21401."

An obituary also appeared in the "Omaha World-Herald" of Omaha, Nebraska, on February 9, 2000, showing "THURTELL - Capt. Frank Allen, U.S.N. (Ret), age 77, resident of Annapolis, MD since 1988, previously of Bellevue, NE, February 5, 2000. Survived by wife, Frances Wade Thurtell; son, James Vann Thurtell, Dallas, TX; brothers, Bernard Thurtell, of Iowa, Dale Thurtell, Brighton, CO; sisters, Florence Irving and Thelma Friend, both of Friendship, ID; 2 grandchildren. MEMORIAL SERVICE Fri., Feb. 11th, 10 am, St. Andrews Chapel, U.S.N.A., Annapolis, MD. In lieu of flowers memorials to American Heart Assoc. HARDESTY FUNERAL HOME, Annapolis, MD 410/263-2222." (Note: Florence and Noble Irving were living in Naples, Florida, not Idaho.)

Frank Thurtell's sister, Thelma Thurtell Friend, died in Idaho on February 7, 2000, and was buried there on February 12, 2000. Their relatives could not attend both funerals only one day and 3000 miles apart, so some attended one and others attended the other.

A February 12, 2000, e-mail from his nephew, Anthony W. (Bill) Barnett, provided the additional information, "Jeannette Carter, Marilyn Banyai and I returned from Uncle Frank's funeral late last night (Friday). The services and funeral were very distinguished. Services were held at the Hardesty Funeral Home in Annapolis from 4 pm to 7 pm on Thursday. Many of Uncle Frank's Shipmates, Academy Classmates, friends and Frances' relatives attended. Aunt Florence and Uncle Noble, Uncle
Bernard and Aunt Joan, and Uncle Cleo were also there. The burial service was held on Friday in the Naval Academy Chapel commencing at 10 am. Then everyone proceeded to the burial grounds where
additional services were held. Aunt Frances was presented with our American Flag; the Honor Guard conducted a 3 Gun Salute; and Taps was played by the Bugler. I must admit that it was very emotional for me and others as well. We will miss Uncle Frank very much. After the funeral everyone was invited to Aunt Frances' home. The obituary has a mistake in the birth place for Uncle Frank. It says he was born in Bellevue, NE, instead of Platner, CO." An e-mail from Bill Barnett on February 13, 2000, advised that Frank Thurtell was buried at the United States Naval Academy COLUMBARIUM in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Social Security death index confirms that Frank Thurtell, whose Social Security number 521-52-0091 was issued in Colorado, was born January 4, 1923, and that he died February 5, 2000, while residing in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland 21401.

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