Descendants of Captain Arthur Fenner

Milton Marion Fenner III

[b 13 June 1914 at Norfolk, Independent Cities, Virginia; d 15 Feb. 2014 at Sewickley, Allegheny, PA] Milton Marion Fenner III m Mary Wheelock [b 7 Nov. 1925 at Buffalo, Erie, NY; d 19 Dec. 1993 at Sewickley, Allegheny, PA], daughter of Harry Elmer Ruddy Wheelock and Clara Durlin Dana, in 1948.

Milton Marion Fenner, age 99, of Sewickley, died on Saturday, February 15, 2014, at home with family at his side. He was born in Norfolk, VA to Milton M. Fenner II and Margueretta W. Fenner. He went by several nicknames including Milt, Milty, Bunny, Jedge, and his favorite, Grandbunny. Mr. Fenner was raised in Fredonia, NY. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, worked summers in a radiator factory and, in 1931, graduated second in his class from Fredonia High School. A member of Psi Upsilon fraternity, he earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan. He also attended two years of law school at Harvard University. In 1939, Mr. Fenner began work at Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation in Dunkirk, NY, and in February of 1942 enlisted in the Navy.

During the war, Mr. Fenner served in the Pacific theatre as a commissioned officer on the U.S.S. Drayton, DD366 (dubbed “The Blue Beetle”) from November 1942 until 1944. On the U.S.S. Drayton he participated in several naval encounters including the Battle of Tassafaronga and Leyte Gulf, during which the Drayton experienced severe damage from enemy gunfire and a kamikaze attack. He then served on the commissioning crew of the U.S.S. Vesole which supported the Allied occupation of Japan in 1945. After leaving active duty he remained in the U.S. Naval Reserves until retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1949.

Mr. Fenner returned to Allegheny Ludlum to work in their Sales and Marketing department. He and Mary wed in 1948, lived for several years in Michigan and Coraopolis, PA, and moved to Sewickley in 1958. Mr. Fenner earned a Master of Letters in Business and Marketing from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954 and rose to the position of Director of Sales. In 1976, he and other company executives bought out the Specialty Steels division to create the AL Tech Steel Corporation. He retired in 1980.

Mr. Fenner developed several long-standing friendships through his love of golf, tennis, paddle tennis, and squash. He was a member of the Edgeworth Club, Allegheny Country Club, and Duquesne Club. In 1957, he served as Chairman of the Edgeworth Club’s tennis committee to host the Wightman Cup professional tennis tournament, in which played Althea Gibson, the first African American Wimbledon Champion. He served as President of the Edgeworth Club in 1962. Milton and Mary were dedicated members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church where he ushered at the early service. He and Mary had many close friends with whom they loved to play golf, tennis, gin rummy and bridge.

After Mary’s death in 1993 he enjoyed a close friendship with Betty Hetherington, also of Sewickley. After retiring, Mr. Fenner volunteered with the Pittsburgh Adult Literacy Council and taught several adults to read. He belonged to the Edgeworth Investors Club and was especially fond of the Gathering of Old Friends. Remarkably, Milton played tennis into his 80s and golf into his 90s. (He shot his age, finally, at 85.) Regardless of the weather he went for a long walk, every day, until the last years of his life. He befriended many dogs along the way. A talented letter writer and toast-maker, he had a keen interest in grammar, expression, poetry, music, and word puzzles. He recently learned to navigate the iPad, using it to find song lyrics, performances, music, and stock market information.

Mr. Fenner possessed strong self-discipline, held high expectations and maintained a die-straight integrity. He was known for his clean, dry wit, his engaging personality, and a dignified humility. He should also be remembered for his commitment to his family and his generosity to the community he loved. Mr. Fenner is survived by his children, Missy Fenner, her children, Tucker and Meg Stolberg, their father, Ted Stolberg; his daughter, Lindsay Heller, and her daughter, Georgia; John Fenner, his wife Jaye Moyer, her daughter, Molly; David Fenner, his wife Kashka Kubzdela, and their daughter, Nicola. Mr. Fenner was predeceased by his first son, Milton M. (Mike) Fenner IV; his sister, Florence F. (Peggy) Aular, and his wife, Mary. A memorial service will be held on May 17, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. at Allegheny Country Club, 250 Country Club Rd., Sewickley Heights, PA 15143 (412-741-7500). Interment will be at the Fenner family plot in Fredonia, New York, at a future date. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the M.M. Fenner IV (Mike) Fund at Sewickley Academy, the American Cancer Society, or other worthy organizations.

—Pittsburg Post-Gazette, 11 April 2014

Ann [b ca. 1944] m Ted Stolberg. They had Tucker and Meg.
Lindsay; m — Heller.
Milton Marion IV [b 11 Aug. 1950; 18 May 1989 in NY].
John W.D. [b Jan. 1956] m Jaye Moyer.
David McKinstry [b Aug. 1957] m Kashka Kubzdela. They had Nicola.

Sources:
1. Email from Richard Arthur Fenner, 12 May 2020.
2. Milton’s memorial at FindaGrave, no. 130583347
3. Milton’s obituary from the Pittsburg Post-Gazette: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?n=milton-marion-fenner&pid=170597828