George Frederick Kettell

George Frederick Kettell of Easton, MD, formerly of Royal Oak, MD, passed away on April 19, 2015. George was born in Baltimore, MD, in 1932. His ancestors go back to Revolutionary days as he was the 5th generation descendent of William Dawes who rode with Paul Revere and his great-grandfather was the American Counsel (Ambassador) to Germany in the 1860’s. He married his wife, Clare, in 1955 and together they raised three children. George began his early career working as a design engineer at the Martin Marietta Company in Baltimore. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BS in mathematics and electrical engineering and then worked for IBM for 26 years, holding management positions in marketing, manufacturing, and corporate headquarters. He oversaw and directed the company-wide internal telecommunication network, VNET, IBM’s forerunner to the Internet of today. He was an avid athlete playing a variety of sports into his sixties. He loved baseball, football, tennis, skiing and sailing. Church and faith-based discussion groups became a regular part of his life along with devotional reading. In 1988, he retired and moved with Clare to Royal Oak, MD, where they began a life of sailing and cruising along the MD and VA waterways. He was involved in various Episcopal Church and diocesan activities and continued in small group discussions and bible studies. The Cursillo movement became a key factor in his spiritual growth journey. Mr Kettell was a devoted member of Christ Church Easton. He was a sailing instructor at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and also obtained his Coast Guard Captain’s license. He was chairman of the Talbot County SCORE organization for several years. George cherished his family and loved his Christian faith and community. George is survived by his wife of 60 years, the former Clare Elizabeth Francis; one son, Kenneth Kettell of New Fairfield, CT; two daughters, Lynn Slifer of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and Karen Owen of McLean, VA; grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Church, Easton, MD, building fund or Talbot Hospice Foundation, Easton, MD. Memorial services to be held on May 15, 2015. Details to be provided at a later date.

George Frederick Kettell

August 30, 1932 - April 19, 2015