Frank Frederick Kretschmer Jr.

Frank Frederick Kretschmer Jr., age 95, of Cary, North Carolina, passed away on Monday, October 20, 2025. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 31, 1930, he was a son to the late Frank Kretschmer Sr. and Florence Lindinger Weiser.

Frank served in the U.S. Navy as an electrician's mate and was proud to have earned his dolphins as a submariner. After earning a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, he resumed his association with the Navy at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. for 20 years as a full-time civilian employee and, upon retiring, another 20 years as a part-time consultant.

A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Frank could be found in front of the television anytime a Penn State football game was being shown.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Friday, November 7, 2025, at McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton. The family will receive friends from 10:00am-10:30am, just prior to the service. A military committal service will follow at the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Goldsboro at 12:00pm.

In addition to his parents, Frank is preceded in death by his brothers, William Weiser, Richard Weiser, and Kenneth Kretschmer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Shirley Bacon Kretschmer; children, Frank Kretschmer III “Rick” (Debra), John Kretschmer (Carol), Diane Porter (Colin), Linda Lejnar (Mark Buchmoyer), and Thomas Kretschmer (Sherry); 8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and sister, Carol Miller.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.