Frank "Al" Deviney Sr.

Frank Allen Deviney, Sr. "Al", 95, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving children, on Monday, February 10, 2025. He was a 1947 graduate of Shelby High School in Shelby, NC. Al served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean conflict, from 1951-1953, and trained at Navy and Marine Corps Electronic Technician schools, then served as a Marine Aviation radio repairman. In 1954, he earned a BS in mechanical engineering at NC State College, Raleigh, NC. Al was a decades long parishioner and award-winning volunteer at Bartlebaugh Baptist Church.
Over the years, Al was employed doing various jobs:
For five years, he was an instructor with the Adult Education program in solid state electronics for Fairfax County, VA.
From 1954-1968, Al was employed with Melpar, Inc. in Falls Church, VA as a senior engineer focused on U.S. Department of Defense R&D projects, including antiaircraft weapons, radar jamming equipment, and worst case studies for military equipment.
From 1968-1972, he worked for Applied Systems Technology in Springfield, VA as a project engineer. His various projects included downed pilot location, detection of listening devices, and classified communications equipment.
From 1972-1976, Al was employed with Isomet, Inc. in Springfield, VA as a project engineer working with laser-based photo typesetting equipment.
In the years 1976-1978, he was employed as a project engineer with household data in Reston, VA. The household data involved microwave linked, remote-controlled devices, such as video cameras.
From 1978-2010, Al worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Hartsville and Chattanooga, TN. He was first a Quality Assurance Training instructor, and then an Engineer at Central Laboratory Services. Along with his colleague, Harold Cummings, III in 1987, he was awarded the TVA Office of Power's Silver Award for outstanding accomplishments. The two were honored for "their efforts on a new process to improve transformer reliability and provide early detection of possible transformer failures." As a result, "this new process could prevent personal injury, loss of life and/or extensive equipment damage by warning of impending failure of these large transformers." At the time of the award, "nine current transformers" had "been 'caught' with this new system."
Al is remembered for his generosity with those less fortunate, love for his friends and family, exceptional intelligence, and an intense curiosity about and appreciation for all living things. He wondered, for example, how Monarch Butterflies knew when and where to migrate, and what prompted vines to twine. He enjoyed maintaining his one-acre yard, still mowing and collecting hickory nuts weeks prior to his death. He loved long drives and exploring nature, notably the Lost Creek area in Eastern TN. Al was passionate about serving God and his church, spending hours there on a variety of activities over the years.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Agnes Mull Deviney; grandson, Matthew Lloyd Sieh; parents, Arlo Bryson Deviney and Oneida Paige Deviney; sisters, Norma Callahan (Max) and Bernice Cobb (William).
Al is survived by his son, Frank A. Deviney, Jr. (Karen); daughters, Linda Deviney Sieh (Stephen), Diana Ludmilla Potter (Lindsay) and Mary Alice Moore (John); grandsons, Brian Deviney, Jonathan Moore, Richard Moore, and Alexander Sieh; three great-grandsons and two great-granddaughters, numerous nieces and nephews; Uncle Loy Paige (96, of Shelby, NC), and close friends, Ronny and Shawn Durham.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Bartlebaugh Baptist Church. A Celebration of Life will follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor Marvin Kirkpatrick officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be sent to Bartlebaugh Baptist Church, general fund, or the Tennessee Aquarium.
Interment will be private.
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