Frederick Dixon McCauley

Frederick Dixon McCauley, age 89, died peacefully on June 24, 2019 after a long period of ill health. He leaves behind his three daughters, Ruth and Rebecca McCauley, who both live in Hilliard, OH, as well as by Mary McCauley Doerksen and her daughter, Catherine McCauley Boryk and Cate’s husband, Henry J. Boryk—all of Hewitt, Texas. Fred’s wife of 65 years, Priscilla, predeceased him in 2016.

Fred was born on August 23, 1929 in Raleigh, North Carolina to Frederick Dixon McCauley, Sr. and Ruth Fountain McCauley. After the death of Fred’s mother when he was five, he moved with his father to Baltimore, Maryland. Fred’s education through high school was obtained from the McDonogh School, a military school for boys outside of Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating from high school, he attended the Massachusetts Institute Technology where he earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduation in 1951 and shortly before entering the army, he married Priscilla Whittemore and took a position with the Hercules Powder Company, based in Wilmington, Delaware. In Fall 1952 he was deployed to North Korea as a second lieutenant, where he saw combat and earned a Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and a Purple heart--the last for injuries sustained when his forward observer station was overrun shortly after his arrival in country.

During their 65 years together and due to his work with Hercules, Fred and Priscilla lived in 10 states or territories—several at least twice: Massachusetts, Alabama, North Carolina, Delaware, Missouri, California, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Georgia, and Illinois. They lived in Louisiana, Missouri from 1956 to 1964 then from 1975 to 1979. Fred was the plant manager at the Missouri Chemical Works for Hercules Incorporated during that last stay in Missouri. They lived in Savannah, Georgia for 26 years--from 1979 to 2005, where they were dedicated members of the congregation at St. Francis and St. Peter’s Episcopal churches. Fred was then plant manager at the Hercules, Incorporated Savannah plant, then as regional management for that company until his retirement in 1990. After his retirement, Fred served as a lay chaplain at Candler Hospital for several years. In 2005, Fred and Priscilla moved to Champaign, IL to be close to daughter Ruth, who was Associate Dean of Students at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from 1994 to 2012. Until their health declined, Fred and Priscilla were active members of the Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Urbana. In 2017, Fred moved with his daughter Ruth in Hilliard, Ohio to join his daughter Rebecca McCauley, Professor of Speech and Hearing Science at the Ohio State University.

Over the course of their lives together, Fred and Priscilla had been talented members of their churches’ choirs and adored many canine companions. Fred was an avid traveler and reader, who was particularly fond of the religious writings of C.S. Lewis. He had a charming sense of humor and deeply appreciated the many people who helped him as he became increasingly infirm due to congestive heart failure, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. His patience and kindness will never be forgotten by those who knew him.

At an as-yet undetermined date, Fred’s ashes will be interred with those of his deceased wife in a private family ceremony at St Peter’s Episcopal Church on Skidaway Island outside of Savannah. Memorial donations may be made to the ASPCA; Smile Train; or the Parkinson’s Foundation.