BROOKEVILLE, Md. - Francis Edward Erdle died Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Gaithersburg, Md. He was 87. Mr. Erdle previously lived in Clarksburg and Silver Spring, Md. and Falls Church, Va. Friends may call Saturday, Jan. 7, from noon to 1 p.m. at Trader Funeral Home, 12 Lotus St., Dover. Services will be held at 1 p.m. followed by interment in Barratt's Chapel Cemetery. Flowers or donations to the American Red Cross are welcome. Mr. Erdle graduated from Dover High School and the University of Delaware in 1950, with a degree in electrical engineering and became assistant to the city manager in Dover. He received the rank of 1st Lt. in the U.S. Army and served in Korea in the 3rd. Infantry Div. He married Gilda W. Testoni, of Suffolk, England, in July 1951. He was subsequently employed at MELPAR, ARINC, COMSTAT and Lockheed Martin Corp., retiring in 1988. He was a lifetime member of the Amateur Radio Association. His radio handle was N3AJ. Mr. Erdle is survived by Gilda, his wife of 60 years; two daughters, Anne, and Sara; five sons, Christopher, Darien and Nicholas Erdle of Maryland, John Erdle of Florida, and Martin Andrew Erdle of North Carolina; 13 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Richard McKee of Dover, Harvey Erdle, Linda Beaty, Janet Tomey, formerly of Dover. He was preceded in death by his parents, Estella and Charles Erdle; and siblings, Frederick and Charles Erdle and Mary McKee of Dover. Letters of condolences may be sent to www.delmarvaobits.com or traderfh@aol.com.