Frank M. Fenton

The Marietta Times obituary notice

Published Thursday, August 11, 2005

WILLIAMSTOWN — Frank M Fenton, 89, of 310 West Fourth St., Williamstown, died at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 9, 2005) at Marietta Memorial Hospital.

He was born Dec. 1, 1915, in Marietta, to Frank L. and Lillian Muhleman Fenton. He graduated from Marietta High School in 1932 and graduated from Marietta College in 1936 with a bachelor of arts degree. He was president of Fenton Art Glass from 1948 through 1979, chairman of the board from 1979 through 1986, and was still a director. He was an authority on American glass (especially Fenton), giving talks to collectors across the country, and providing research support to the authors of many books on Fenton. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Williamstown, including positions of choir director, finance chairman, and on the board of directors of the Spring Heights Methodist Summer Camp. He was a 36 year member of the Marietta College board of trustees, including a term as chairman, sang in “Messiah”, member of Thursday Noon Rotary in Marietta, was a founding member of Williamstown Community Association, created with brother Bill, the Fenton Foundation, and was a founding member of Artsbridge.

He is survived by four sons, Frank Fenton and his wife, Sonia, Tom Fenton and his wife, Sharon, of Marietta, Mike Fenton and his wife, Kathy, of Williamstown, and George Fenton and his wife, Nancy, of Williamstown; 12 grandchildren, Frank Daniel Fenton and his wife, Holley, Lynn Erb and her husband, Eric, Matthew Fenton and his wife, Vickie, Jennifer Hukill and her husband, Mark, Scott Fenton and his wife, Grace, Jennifer Woofter, Kerry Fenton, Meredith Minix, Natalie Molter and her husband, Neil, Benjamin Fenton and David Fenton and his wife, Jennifer; 16 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ruth Jenkins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elizabeth Ripley Fenton; five sisters, Dorothy Fenton, Carol Bell, Martha Treash, Lillian Archer, and Marjorie Cummings; one brother, Wilmer “Bill” C. Fenton, who preceded him in death on Dec. 11, 2002; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 13) at First United Methodist Church in Williamstown with the Rev. Steve Gedon and the Rev. Leo Farley officiating. A reception will follow. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Hadley Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 304 W. Fifth St., Williamstown, W.Va. 26187.