Col. Robert McFadden

Surrounded by family, Col. Julian Robert McFadden passed away peacefully on Friday, November 12, at his Corvallis home. Loving husband and adored father, friend and avid OSU Beaver fan, he will be sorely missed. A native of Corvallis, he was born on June 28, 1930 to the late Mary and Art Goldblatt and raised by his grandparents Julian Nesbit and Agnes McFadden. He was a graduate of Corvallis High School and St. Thomas Military Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1949. Upon graduation, Julian attended Oregon State College and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1953. He received a second degree from Oklahoma State University in 1956 in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. He was awarded his Masters degree in Business Administration in 1975 from Auburn University. He also was a distinguished graduate of the Air War College. Julian entered the active duty Air Force on January 18, 1954 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Selected for pilot training, he graduated in 1957. A command pilot with tours in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, he flew 341 combat missions in Vietnam while based at Danang, Republic of Vietnam and Udorn, Thailand. He accumulated more than 5,000 flying hours in the F-4, F-102, T-33, and A-10 aircraft. Among the decorations Julian earned during his illustrious career are the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf clusters, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 17 Oak Leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Service Star, Vietnam Service Medal with 10 Bronze Service Stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. After serving for almost 28 years, he retired from the Air Force in 1981 and returned to Corvallis to pursue the family business of racing and breeding thoroughbred horses at the Pleasure Acres Thoroughbred farm. He was also in a partnership of 25 years called the "0-6" with Liz and Hugh White. The partnership owned, developed, and remodeled numerous properties in Corvallis. With a love of God and country, Julian was a proud and deeply committed member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Corvallis, attending mass weekly. Active in the community, he also was a member of the Rotary Club. A "Beaver Believer" to the end, he was an enthusiastic supporter of all OSU athletics, specifically football, baseball and basketball. While attending OSU, Julian played basketball and was a lifelong member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Known as "Be Bop", he deeply treasured the friendship and camaraderie of his Phi Delt brothers. Hanaied (adopted) by the Hanaike ohana (family), Julian was heavily influenced by the Hawaiian culture. After his belief in God, family came next in his list of priorities. He married the late Rebecca Mary Kawai'ala Nathaniel of Hilo, Hawaii on May 7, 1955. They had nine children. Julian was blessed a second time, when he met and married Hawaiian beauty Deanna Leimomi Miller of Kailua, Hawaii on February 8, 1997. Along with his parents, Julian is preceded in death by his first wife, Rebecca. He is survived by his loving wife of 13 years, Deanna; nine children, Ku'uipo Shimizu McFadden, Mary Aiona, Kaleomililani Larrison, Arthur, Julian, John, Nahaku, Keahi, and Mealoha McFadden; stepchildren Jessie, Frank Jr., and Kanani Miller, Angel Saizon, and Jamie Amituanai, 28 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Arthur McFadden and sister Kathryn Brandis. His funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, November 19 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 501 NW 25th St. Corvallis, Ore. Visitation will be held from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. before Mass. He will be laid to rest with full military honors at his final resting place, St. Mary's cemetery. A reception will follow at Pleasure Acres Thoroughbred Farm, off Hwy. 20 near Hewlett Packard. Memorial gifts may take the form of contributions to the Rebecca McFadden Memorial Scholarship sent to the Benton County Foundation, ATTN: Kristy Pribyl, PO Box 911 Corvallis, OR 97339.

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Col. Robert McFadden

June 28, 1930 - November 12, 2010