Henrietta T. McCullough

Henrietta T. McCullough, affectionately known all her life as “Sue,” passed away peacefully on June 4, 2025, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the remarkable age of 103. Sue was born on February 2, 1922, in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Jackson, Missouri. A gifted and determined student, she graduated from Beaverhead County High School in Dillon, Montana, in 1939. She continued her education at State Teachers College in Minot, North Dakota, from 1939 to 1941, and later at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she studied dance and occupational therapy from 1941 to 1943.

During World War II, Sue answered the call to service and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Army, where she served as an occupational therapist, helping injured soldiers recover and regain independence. After her military service, she devoted her career to caring for others and nurturing creativity. She worked as an occupational therapist at the VA Hospital in Helena, Montana, and later as a physician’s assistant in California. In Fort Wayne, she became a beloved instructor at the Fort Wayne Art School, where she taught weaving and quilting until her retirement in 1989.

In 1954, Sue married George W. McCullough, whom she had met at the Brickyard Pottery in Helena, Montana. Together they began a journey that took them from Manhattan (1954–1960), to California (1960–1965), and finally to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they made their home from 1965 onward. George, a gifted painter and respected teacher, also taught at the Fort Wayne Art School and achieved renown as a painter throughout his career. He preceded her in death on October 15, 2005.

Sue’s life was marked by service, creativity, and love. She found joy in the arts, in teaching, and in her deep bonds with family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Horatio Nelson Tragitt, and her mother, Henrietta Mueller Tragitt. She is survived by her nephews Gregory Nelson Tragitt and Gordon P. Tragitt, and her niece Leslie Ann Tragitt, who will forever cherish her memory.

Sue’s remarkable journey through more than a century of life was defined by resilience, compassion, and an enduring commitment to enriching the lives of others. She will be remembered for her generous spirit, her artistry, and her dedication to both healing and teaching.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Sue’s life will be held at her home, 816 Wagner Street, Fort Wayne, on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friends and family are warmly invited to attend and share in honoring her legacy.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to The University of Saint Francis School of Creative Arts.