Services May 1 for Frank Atha III, 77

Frank Perry Atha III, a resident of Pacific Palisades since 1951, died on April 21 in Santa Monica. He was 77. Born in 1926 in Kansas City, Missouri, Frank attended Missouri Military Academy. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1948; a few days after graduation, he moved to Southern California, where he went to work at McDonnell-Douglas as a design engineer in aerospace. For several years, Frank was chief engineer at Transco. He worked at MicroMetals until he retired in 1982 at age 55. A member of the Santa Monica Yacht Club, Frank enjoyed sailing, and his favorite yachting experience was the long cruise he made from Florida through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles. He was also a member of the Los Angeles Computer Society. Frank is survived by his wife, Roberta Atha; sons Thomas and Randall; brothers Warren and David; grandchildren Steven, Frank and Jessica; nephew Keith Auck and nieces Lianne Auck and Susan Balazhi. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 1 at 2 p.m. in The Little Chapel of the Dawn at Gates, Kingsley, Gates in Santa Monica. Interment will be private.