NORTH MANCHESTER – Wilbur Dean McFadden, 92, passed away at Parkview Wabash Hospital on May 22, 2024.
Wilbur’s life was shaped by his devotion to his family, his church and his career as a physician.
Wilbur met Joyce Arlene Snyder while they were students at Manchester College where, together, they dreamed of and planned for service in the mission field. After graduating from Manchester in 1953, Wilbur completed his medical degree at the University of Illinois in 1957, an internship at Hurley Hospital in Flint, Mich., and a residency in general surgery at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit, all with support of the Church of the Brethren.
Wilbur and Joyce immediately moved to Castañer, Puerto Rico, for an interim assignment with the Church of the Brethren before securing their visas to travel to Ambon, Indonesia, and then to Tohomon. While in Tomohon, Wilbur served as chief of staff for a small hospital and as the only surgeon for approximately 200,000 people. Wilbur and Joyce served nearly seven years in Puerto Rico and Indonesia.
In 1969, Wilbur accomplished a second goal by returning to North Manchester and serving as a general practitioner with two college classmates at the Manchester Clinic. Over the next thirty years, he provided compassionate medical care for multiple generations of Wabash County residents. Wilbur served on the medical staff of Wabash Hospital, including as chief of staff, and founded the Wabash Addiction Care Center. He was pleased to be known as a family doctor, often making house calls late at night and on weekends. Together with Joyce, he was active in addiction recovery programs and supportive of Joyce in her work in that field.
Wilbur was active in the life of the Manchester Church of the Brethren, serving in a multitude of roles, including board member and Sunday school teacher. He was generous with his time and resources, supporting the church and Manchester University, among many others.
Wilbur was passionate about model trains. When moving to Timbercrest meant dismantling an extensive HO gauge train layout, Wilbur crafted a tiny Z gauge layout in a glass coffee table and delighted in showing it off to visitors.
Wilbur had an insatiable curiosity. He filled his retirement keeping up with the lives and interests of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; hosting friends in his apartment for dinner and long evening conversations; and reading voraciously about science, current events and history. During the pandemic, Wilbur wrote and distributed a regular update on all things Covid-19 to the Timbercrest community and served as a passionate advocate for vaccination.
Wilbur was born June 7, 1931, in Dalton, Ohio. He is survived by children: Dan (Wendy), Dave, Tim (Rosanna) and Joy, brother, Ralph (Keo), 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Wilbur was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; brother, Robert; and daughter-in-law Renée.
Visitation for Timbercrest residences will be held Saturday, June 22 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Timbercrest Chapel.
A celebration of Wilbur’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on June 22 at the Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 Beckley St., North Manchester. Following the service, the family of Wilbur McFadden will receive friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to the McFadden Family Scholarship Fund at Manchester University. Gifts can be made online at Manchester.edu or by mail to 604 E College Avenue, North Manchester, IN 46962.
Condolences may be emailed to mckeemortuary.com.