Frederick C. Fehl

IRMO – Frederick Clarence Fehl, retired FBI executive passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2012. He is the son of the late Emma and Clarence Fehl of New Cumberland, PA. Born in Harrisburg, PA, he received his early education in New Cumberland and subsequently was awarded both BCS and MCS Degrees from Southeastern University in Washington, DC. He served in the United States Navy during World War II.

Mr. Fehl served more than thirty years with the FBI having been the special agent in charge at Louisville, KY, New York City and the Cleveland Ohio Divisions of the FBI. He retired in 1977 as the Assistant Director of the FBI Washington, DC Headquarters. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Senyitko Fehl who was an executive secretary with the FBI.

While assigned in New York City, he became noted for the successful solution of a Brooklyn hostage bank robbery which became the plot for a motion picture staring Al Pacino, titled “Dog Day Afternoon” subsequent to his retirement, he assumed the responsibility of forming and becoming Director of Corporate Security for Texas Eastern Corporation, a multi-national corporation engaged in the oil, gas and real estate ventures until his retirement in Houston, TX.

He was a life member of the international association of chiefs of police, the society of former special agents of the FBI, Columbia Masonic Lodge, Arlington, VA, Arabia Shrine Temple of Houston, TX, Officers Club at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona and an active member of St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church where he was a member of the Wednesday Men’s Bible Class, Lutheran Men in Mission and church usher.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred Perkins Fehl; step daughter, Lynne Perkins, of Houston, TX; step son, Steven and wife, Tonya Perkins of Simpsonville, SC; five grandchildren and nephew, Pastor Ronald Cox and wife, Helen of Thousand Oaks, CA; two grand nieces and one grand nephew of California.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 31, 2012 at St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church with interment in the church cemetery. Pastor Dwight Wessinger will conduct the services. Memorials may be made to St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 400 River Road, Columbia, SC 29212. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.