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In Memoriam | Summer 2015

In Memoriam: 1950s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Watha Herbert Lambert (Col ’50) of Peoria, Arizona, died March 6, 2015. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Mr. Lambert was a lawyer who began his career in Tennessee and later practiced in Phoenix. He was active in the early civil rights movement and in the Boy Scouts of America, and was an accomplished poet who published many poems throughout his lifetime. Survivors include his wife, three daughters, one son, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

D. Boyd Horsley (Med ’51 L/M) of Kenosha, Wisconsin, died March 27, 2015. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. At the University, he lived on the Lawn. Dr. Horsley completed his internship and medical residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago before beginning an internal medicine private practice in Kenosha in 1957, where he practiced for 30 years and later specialized in geriatric medicine. He served as medical director of Brookside Care Center for 35 years and was a member of a number of medical organizations, including the Kenosha Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Dr. Horsley was also a ringside doctor for Golden Gloves of America, often advocating for the safety of boxers. He enjoyed tennis, skiing, biking and making stained-glass windows. Survivors include his wife, a son, a daughter and two grandchildren.

Samuel Edgar McFadden Jr. (Grad ’51 L/M) of Somerville, Tennessee, died Feb. 8, 2015. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. At the University, he was a member of the Glee Club and held a DuPont fellowship in cytogenetics at Blandy Experimental Farm. He taught botany and horticulture at the University of Florida for many years and was known for his work with the hibiscus plant. Mr. McFadden joined the staff of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station as an assistant horticulturalist in 1950 and simultaneously joined the University of Florida department of horticulture faculty. In 1962, he bred the three selections of herbaceous perennial hibiscus that were released by the school’s horticulture department; one of the selections, “Flare,” is considered by many to be the best perennial hibiscus in Texas, and millions of plants have been sold in the U.S. Mr. McFadden retired from the University of Florida in 1976, but continued hybridizing woody species of hibiscus to secure cultivars that are hardy in temperate regions. In 2004, he released the patented “Blue Angel” and “White Angel” altheas, fast-growing hibiscus plants that produce an abundance of blooms on every cutting. He also worked with small crape myrtles with special interest in resistance to powdery mildew. As a member of musicians’ groups and botanical organizations, Mr. McFadden shared his botanical and musical talents with many others. Survivors include two sisters and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Thomas B. Baird Jr. (Col ’52 L/M) of Wytheville, Virginia, died March 20, 2015. Mr. Baird began his law career in 1968 and served as commonwealth’s attorney of Wythe County, Virginia, for 26 years. Through his subsequent private practice, he employed and mentored many aspiring lawyers. A member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, the American Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the National District Attorneys Association, the American Judicature Society and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and many other organizations, Mr. Baird was known as a good and caring lawyer and friend. He was also an active member of the Thomas Jefferson Society of Alumni and acted as a trustee for the George W. Simmerman Home for the Aged. His name was placed on the National Wall of Tolerance, a digital display at the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery, Alabama, of the names of those who have pledged to take a stand against hate and work toward justice and tolerance. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, including Laura R. Baird (Col ’91 L/M); and two sons.

Barbara Hankins “Hank” Bowry (Col ’52 L/M) of Richmond, Virginia, died March 2, 2015. She was an active member of many social clubs in Richmond, including the Tuckahoe Woman’s Club, the Tri-Club Woman’s Club and the Red Hat Society. She was also an avid and accomplished bridge player. Ms. Bowry was an enthusiastic Virginia Cavaliers fan who never missed a game; she was always in attendance, watching on television or listening to the game on the radio. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, and never failed to remember every birthday and holiday with a card in the mail to let her family know she was thinking of them. Survivors include two daughters, including Barbara Jeanne Bowry Polo (Col ’78, Arch ’96); two sons, J. Philip “Flip” Bowry III (Com ’91 L/M) and William H. “Hank” Bowry (Col ’92); five grandchildren; and a sister.

William K. Mendenhall Jr. (Col ’54 L/M) of Juno Beach, Florida, died March 10, 2015. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. At the University, he was a member of the P.K. Society, Theta Chi fraternity and Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity. After attending law school, Mr. Mendenhall began his career in the oil department of Citibank in 1960, working first in New York City and later in London. In 1973, he left Citibank to set up the London merchant banking subsidiary of Banco Urquijo. The bank Mr. Mendenhall created was successful, well-run and fun; for many years after he retired and the bank had been absorbed by shareholders, former employees would gather at annual reunions to reminisce. In 1964, Mr. Mendenhall bought a family home in East Grafton, Wiltshire, near the village of his Mendenhall ancestors, and began foxhunting a few years later. Foxhunting became a lifelong passion of his, and when he retired in 1987 and moved with his wife to Exford, Somerset, U.K., he spent much of his time hunting and breeding horses. In 1992, Mr. Mendenhall and his wife began spending summers in Pennsylvania and springs in Florida, where he pursued family history research and renewed his interest in spring training baseball, respectively. Mr. Mendenhall was an enthusiastic entertainer and baseball fan who enjoyed Spanish culture and had many friends on both sides of the Atlantic. Survivors include his wife; a sister; a son, William K. “Bill” Mendenhall III (Col ’80); a daughter, Jennifer Mendenhall (Col ’83 L/M); and five grandchildren.

Lois Erickson Paul (Educ ’54) of Sea Girt, New Jersey, died Aug. 29, 2014. She taught piano and was an organist for local churches and at Temple Sholom in Plainfield, New Jersey, for 25 years. More recently, she was the organist for Methodist House of Chautauqua, New York, where she spent most summers of her life. Ms. Paul loved classical music and was a talented performer who specialized in accompaniment of singers and instrumentalists. Survivors include her husband, Edward L. Paul (Engr ’52); a daughter; a son; and three grandchildren.

Donald Richard “Don” Campbell (Col ’56) of Asheville, North Carolina, died March 5, 2015. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. At the University, he was a member of the Cave Club and played violin in the University Orchestra. Mr. Campbell joined DuPont in 1958, researching packing films and video recording films. He assisted in research on blood dialysis at the Medical College of Richmond, now Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, developing new semi-permeable membranes. Throughout his career, Mr. Campbell served in many positions at DuPont, including senior research associate and development superintendent and, eventually, senior technical associate. During the period following the Cuban Missile Crisis, he served as radiation protection officer for the city of Richmond, Virginia. An accomplished musician, Mr. Campbell played as a symphony violinist and string quartet member in various groups around Richmond. He also taught Suzuki violin classes for young children. He moved to Asheville in 1987 to teach chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. There, he established his own business, Systems Research, and studied sculpture and painting, winning numerous awards and commissions for his work. Mr. Campbell was a sculpture teacher and president of the Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League for many years, retiring from the program as an artist-in-residence. He was an active member of the Thomas Jefferson Society of Alumni and had many hobbies, including sailing on the tall ship Rose and cave exploring with the National Speleological Society. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, including Cheryl S. Campbell (Engr ’85); and three granddaughters.

Jesse James Hagy (Educ ’56 L/M) of Huron, Ohio, died March 10, 2015. At the University, he played football and basketball and was a member of the V Club, German Club and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He was a health and physical education teacher and coach at Huron High School for more than 40 years, leading the basketball team to several conference championships and back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. He coached multiple sports, including football and golf, and was a dedicated teacher, mentor and role model to his players, students and peers. Mr. Hagy was an avid Virginia Cavaliers fan, often traveling to Charlottesville to attend games and visit with friends. Survivors include two daughters; one son; six grandchildren; a sister; and three brothers, including Robert “Ralph” Hagy (Col ’66 L/M).

7 Society MemberMartin A. “Skip” Purcell (Col ’57, Law ’60 L/M) of Newport, Rhode Island, and West Palm Beach, Florida, died Feb. 12, 2015. At the University, he served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, chairman of the InterFraternity Council governing board, president of Delta Phi fraternity (St. Elmo Hall), secretary of the Intramural Athletic Council and king of the IMP Society. He was also manager of the track and field and cross country teams, and was a member of the Cavalier Daily staff, Eli Banana, the Raven Society and Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society. While a law student, he received the American Jurisprudence Prize for excellence in wills and trusts, and served a year as student assistant to Professor Neill Alford, chairman of the estates department. Mr. Purcell remained active in University life as an alumnus. He was co-founder of the UVaClub of the Palm Beaches and a member of the Lawn Society, and established a Jefferson Scholarship in his family’s name. Mr. Purcell was an attorney for more than 50 years, serving as the partner in charge of the Florida offices of three national law firms, and was most recently president of his own trust and estates firm in Palm Beach. An avid sailor, he won a number of championships in his youth. Later, as owner, part owner or principal helmsman and tactician, he won the North American One Ton Championship, the J-44 North American Championship, the New York Forty Class Championship, and was overall winner of the 1966 Newport to Bermuda Race, the Northern Ocean Racing Championship and a member of the United States Admiral’s Cup and Onion Patch Trophy teams. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, including Cynthia Hunter Purcell (Col ’85); a son, W. Hunter Purcell (Col ’91 L/M); and five grandchildren.

Ronald D. Wiley Sr. (Col ’58 L/M) of Charlottesville died April 3. He served as a journalist in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. At the University, Mr. Wiley lived in the original Copeley Hill residences for married students. After graduation, Mr. Wiley resumed his journalism career with his hometown Watertown Daily Times newspaper in upstate New York. In the late 1960s he and his family moved to Rochester, New York, where he was employed by the Eastman Kodak Co. For 14 years he was editor-in-chief of Kodak’s weekly employee newspaper, Kodakery. While with Kodak, he was an officer in the International Association of Business Communicators. He retired from Kodak in 1989 and after his move to Charlottesville worked briefly for what was then Michie Publishing Co. Hallmarks of Mr. Wiley’s volunteer activities were his service to the Boy Scouts of America as a leader at many levels, as well as lifelong service to his church. In his retirement, he was very active in Charlottesville’s Senior Center, leading two weekly hiking groups and developing as a woodcarver. Survivors include his son, Ronald D. Wiley Jr. (Col ’80 L/M); and his daughter, Mollie C. Pawlowski (Educ ’88 L/M); his daughter-in-law, Gail Hyder Wiley (Col ’80 L/M); his son-in-law, David F. Pawlowski (Educ ’87 L/M); and four grandchildren, including Paul M. Wiley (Col ’10 L/M).