Obituary of Frank Donald BENNER

May 8, 1932 - Orillia, Ontario
August 29, 2021 - Calgary, Alberta

Frank Benner of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at the age of 89 years, after a brief battle with Cancer.

He was born in Orillia, ON, the fourth of six siblings. Frank made many happy memories during summers spent at the family cabin at Sparrow Lake. He enjoyed good competition and excelled at many sports growing up. Frank studied Engineering Physics, with a nuclear concentration, at Queen's University, where he graduated in 1955. His work with Northern Electric, and then Schlumberger, took him to Dawson Creek, BC, where he met the love of his life Shirley Peckover. Frank's deeply-rooted faith in God – always at the centre of his life – resonated with Shirley's own faith and devotion. Frank and Shirley married in 1959 and after a short stay in Edmonton, the family settled in Calgary where they raised three loving children. Working for Alberta Government Telephones, Frank developed a new method of assigning channels for the newly emerging cellular telephone system. A patent for this highly influential work was issued for his system in 1992.

Frank enjoyed being surrounded by family, playing chess with his grandchildren, talking with his siblings in Ontario, and learning to play bridge in his later years.

He will be greatly missed by his children, Ned (Suzanne), Drew (Jacelyn) and Janice (Edgar) Yajure and grandchildren, Luke (Tracy), Sam (Sagan), Mikayla, Aiden, Reid, Elena, Mateo and Elias. He is also survived by his brother Ralph and sisters, Irene, Verna, and Caryl. As a family we will ensure that his great-grandchildren, Alaric, Pendragon and Eleanor, learn of his love for God and family. Frank was predeceased in 2011 by his wife Shirley, and his sister Dorothy. 

A Memorial Service will be held at Bonavista Evangelical Missionary Church (1509 Lake Ontario Drive SE, Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mr. Benner's service streamed live at https://youtu.be/cyb27TUey_I on the day of the service. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Frank Benner, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.