Frank W. Fork

Frank W. Fork

SALISBURY - Frank W. Fork, 85, of Salisbury, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2011, at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Fork was born Feb. 5, 1926, in Bairdford, Pa., the son of late Gertrude Kis and John Fork. At the age of 3, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., and resided there until retiring to Salisbury in 1989. He married Marie L. Fork in 1957.

Mr. Fork was educated at St. Ambrose Catholic grade school, Connely Trade/High School and graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now known as Carnegie Mellon) with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

His career spanned over 40 years with H.H. Robertson Co., as an International Marketing Manager. He held 43 U.S. Patents and 104 Foreign Patents. In 1984, he was recognized by the Patent Law Association of Pittsburgh as the Tri-State Inventor of the Year.

Mr. Fork was a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, as well as the Sectional Director of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

He was also a member of the American Military Engineers (1952), American Rocket Society (1958), Industrial College of the Armed Forces (1969), The Air Force Association, and the Aero Club. He also served on the industry advisory council of the Underwriters Laboratories (Electrical).

He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army. He later became a Commander of the North Hills Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol and flew as a pilot of search and rescue missions. He graduated from the Officers Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama and attained the rank of Major.

Since moving to Salisbury, he was been a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, serving as an usher, a member of the Golden Opportunity Club, and was on the planning committee for the church's first Habitat House, as well as the committee for the Child Development Center. Mr. Fork also served many years on the Executive Board of Friends of the Library.

Mr. Fork was a 50-years-plus member of the Penn Brotherhood Masonic Lodge 635 in Pittsburgh, Pa., and held dual membership with the Andrew Jackson Masonic Lodge 576. He was a past member of Shriners Syria Temple in Pittsburgh, Oasis Temple of Charlotte, Rowan Shrine Club and Winston-Salem Scottish Rite of Free Masonry.

He is survived by his wife, Marie L. Fork; daughter Margaret Ingle and husband Robert Ingle and two grandchildren of Lakewood, Ohio; foster daughter Kathleen Ponder and husband Dan of Crossville, Tenn.; and sister Dolores Roetter of Fairfield, Conn.

Services will be held at a later date.

Online condolences for the Fork family may be made at www.powlesfuneralhome.com. Powles Funeral Home is assisting the Fork family.