May 16th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Former Cumberland Mayor Frank Nethken has passed away at the age of 91. Nethken, who was born in Keyser, graduated from Fort Hill in 1949, then served in the U.S. Navy. He was a machinist inspector for the Chessie Railroad and retired from that position. He worked several years as a real estate broker. His lifelong interest in politics culminated with his election as Cumberland’s mayor for one term- 1978 thru 1982- defeating incumbent Perry Smith. Nethken was defeated in his bid for re-election by George Wyckoff. In the years that followed, Nethken unsuccessfully campaigned for public office on several occaisions  on both the municipal and federal level – and at one point announced his intentions to run for president. Nethken requested that there be no funeral services.