Arthur David Hall III, 81, of Fredericksburg died Friday, March 31, 2006, at Mary Washington Hospital.

He was a graduate of Princeton University and a World War II U.S. Army veteran. Mr. Hall worked for many years as an electrical engineer for Bell Labs before forming his own consulting business. He was a founding member and fellow of the I.E.E.E. Association and author of a widely used engineering textbook, "Methodology of Systems Engineering." He is listed in Who's Who Men of Science as the "father of the picture telephone" and creator of the patented Auto Farm System. He was the son of the late Arthur David Hall Jr. and Emily Sunquist Hall.

Survivors include his wife, Judith Merrill Hall; two daughters, Emily McPherson of Gloucester, Mass. and Deborah Branson of Golden, Colo.; one step-daughter, Laura Pencke of Malvern, Pa.; two sisters, Dorothea Patrick and Diana Tiernan, both of Richmond; and seven grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg.

Online guest book at covenant funeralservice.com.