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Dr. McFadden dies at age 79

7/10/2015

By Tom Marshall
Senior Advocate writer

Don C. McFadden Jr., a longtime local physician known for his compassion and broad interests, died Saturday. He was 79.

McFadden was a family physician from the old order who performed surgery, knew orthopedics and delivered hundreds of babies, remembers Dr. Bill Roberts, who practiced with McFadden for several years and considered him a mentor.

Doctors now tend to specialize in certain areas of medicine.

Regardless of the circumstance, McFadden was a man of compassion for his patients, in and out of the office, Roberts said.

“He treated the whole person, not just the disease,” Roberts said. “He was a very holistic individual and he was very compassionate. There were none like him.”

Longtime friend, Roger Minnich, said McFadden always took the time to get to know patients personally as well as professionally.

“He was a patient’s doctor,” Minnich recalled. “He would sit down and talk and work out whatever problems you had.”

Minnich, who operated Ross Drugs near McFadden’s medical practice, said patients often mentioned that he had spent extra time with them to resolve their issues.

“Don C. was a man who cared,” Minnich said. “He’s going to be sorely missed.”

In addition to serving as a family doctor for more than 39 years, McFadden also had a broad range of interests, including football, church, music and education, former colleagues said.

He served as physician for the Mt. Sterling High School Trojans’ football team, was a member and deacon at First Baptist Church, a member of the board of directors at Mt. Sterling National Bank and Whitaker Bank and an elected member of the Mt. Sterling Board of Education and Montgomery County Board of Education. He also loved music, in which he sang and played the piano, friends said.

The loss was felt throughout the community.

“I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Don,” Larry and Kay Lee posted on the guest book page at Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, which handled the arrangements.

“He served on the Mt. Sterling Board of Education and I was on the Montgomery County Board of Education when they merged. He was a great person to work with. He was also my personal physician for many years. My wife, Kay, and I sent our prayers to Anne and family in the loss of a husband, father and special person.”

“Dr. McFadden was a good man who contributed a great deal to this community,” Sharon Follett posted on the guest book. “My sympathies to the family.”

Glenn and Bonnie Spencer also posted condolences.

“He was our family doctor from the early 70s until he retired,” they wrote. “He was the best! The family has our sympathies.”

Beyond medicine, McFa-dden wanted to contribute to his community in any way in which he could be of service, colleagues said.
“He wanted to see a healthy community and see the whole area thrive,” Roberts said.

McFadden graduated from Mt. Sterling High School in 1954. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in 1958 and his M.D. degree from Duke in 1962.

After completing his residency at the University of Cincinnati, he served active duty as a captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1963-1965. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, McFadden entered private practice in Mt. Sterling. He was also a staff member at Mary Chiles Hospital.

McFadden is survived by his wife of 55 years, Anne Perkins McFadden of Lexington; one daughter, Laurie McFadden Miller (Bobby) of Paducah; one son, Don C. McFadden III (Beth) of Winchester; and five granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Private family committal will follow at Machpelah Cemetery.