DEAR

Brock M. Dear Jr., 89, of Southern Pines, died Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at St. Joseph of the Pines Health Center in Southern Pines.
Interment will be in the family mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, N.Y., at a future date.
Brock was born Nov. 8, 1920, in New York City to the late Brock M. and Marjorie P. Dear. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Yale University — Class of 1943. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. and Japan in the Army Air Force. He was released as a first lieutenant in May 1946. He served as a reserve officer with the Air Force, retiring as a major in 1964.
Brock joined the AT&T Co. in 1946, retiring in 1982, after 35 years of service. With AT&T, he worked for the Long Lines Department, AT&T general offices, and the four C&P Telephone Companies. He was among the pioneers in the use of large scale computers for processing applications other than routine call billing — later called Business Information Systems. For three years, he taught business systems to over 800 marketing students from throughout the Bell Companies at the Bell System Data Communication School in Cooperstown, N.Y. During his last three years, he was the nonlegal anti-trust coordinator for the C&P Companies.
In 1981, Brock retired to Pinehurst. He was a member and past president of the Wolves Bridge Club. For nine years, he was a board member of the English-Speaking Union, serving as treasurer for five years. He was an avid stamp collector for over 40 years, accumulating one of the largest collections of Mint Ship Stamps.
Surviving is his friend of several years, Marjatta Strandell Thamm; daughters, Marjorie Wenzel, of Germantown, Md., Barbara Dear, of Gaithersburg, Md., and Elizabeth Dear, of Gaithersburg, Md.; sons, David Dear, of Ocean Pines, Md.. and Arthur Dear, of Cary; and seven grandchildren.
Brock was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Arabelle; one brother; and twin sisters.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 8300 Health Park, Ste. 10, Raleigh, NC 27615
Condolences can be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.