"Dr. Robert Theodore McFadden, Professor Emeritus of Music at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, passed away peacefully in his home in Durant, OK on March 3, 2018. He was born on June 9, 1949 in Dodge City, KS, the son and eldest child of Theodore Frank and Bertha Mary (Foster) McFadden.
Robert spent his childhood on his parents’ farm near Montezuma, KS. Having received his first piano lesson at the age of four from an aunt, he went on to complete his undergraduate studies in piano at Wichita State University. He then earned an M.M. degree at the University of Michigan, studying with Marian Owen Hunt. After teaching at Hesston College in Kansas and South Carolina State University, he began work on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of Kansas, studying with Richard Angeletti. On July 29, 1983, he married the love of his life, Jan, in Lawrence, KS. He joined the music faculty of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1984 and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1986.
Robert’s diverse talents shaped and inspired many lives - students, faculty, fellow musicians, choir members, and churchgoers - over the course of a distinguished 31-year career. He taught private piano, music history, and music literature and appreciation at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He also served as an accompanist for the Southeastern Chorale, Opera Theatre, and numerous vocal recitalists. As a concert pianist, he performed in England and Mexico City, as well as California, Florida, and other areas of the United States. Later in life, he presided over the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association during 2006-08 and was honored as a Foundation Fellow of the Music Teachers National Association in 2009.
He was a longtime pianist and organist at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church in Denison, TX. He was the pianist and a member and reader of the Christian Science Church in Denison, TX.
He began writing letters to family members - both near and distant - as a young boy, sparking a lifelong passion for genealogy. After decades of correspondence and research, he wrote separate histories of his Foster and McFadden family relatives and descendants. He proudly joined the Sons of the American Revolution and the National Society of Magna Charta Barons after proving his lineages. Cooking, reading, antiquing, and cross-stitching were other cherished hobbies, though love of family was life’s foremost joy. His kindness and generosity earned him much love and respect.
Robert is survived by his wife, Jan, of Durant, OK; one daughter, Kara, and her husband Dr. Brandon Sumner of Denison, TX; one son, Dr. Jonathan McFadden, of Washington, DC; two sisters, Patricia Regier of Newton, KS and Janice Rages and husband Dan of Hutchinson, KS; one brother, Mike McFadden, of Topeka, KS; two grandchildren, Lauren and Emma Sumner, of Denison, TX; and several nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.
A funeral service will be held at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 10:00 AM with Rev. James Bowden officiating. The family visitation will be at Holmes Coffey Murray Funeral Home, Durant, on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 during 5:00-8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to either: The Dr. Robert McFadden Music Scholarship at the Southeastern Foundation, 425 W. University Blvd., Fund No. 0148, Durant, OK 74701 or The Leaves nursing facility at 1230 West Spring Valley Rd., Richardson, TX 75080."
Robert spent his childhood on his parents’ farm near Montezuma, KS. Having received his first piano lesson at the age of four from an aunt, he went on to complete his undergraduate studies in piano at Wichita State University. He then earned an M.M. degree at the University of Michigan, studying with Marian Owen Hunt. After teaching at Hesston College in Kansas and South Carolina State University, he began work on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of Kansas, studying with Richard Angeletti. On July 29, 1983, he married the love of his life, Jan, in Lawrence, KS. He joined the music faculty of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1984 and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1986.
Robert’s diverse talents shaped and inspired many lives - students, faculty, fellow musicians, choir members, and churchgoers - over the course of a distinguished 31-year career. He taught private piano, music history, and music literature and appreciation at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He also served as an accompanist for the Southeastern Chorale, Opera Theatre, and numerous vocal recitalists. As a concert pianist, he performed in England and Mexico City, as well as California, Florida, and other areas of the United States. Later in life, he presided over the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association during 2006-08 and was honored as a Foundation Fellow of the Music Teachers National Association in 2009.
He was a longtime pianist and organist at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church in Denison, TX. He was the pianist and a member and reader of the Christian Science Church in Denison, TX.
He began writing letters to family members - both near and distant - as a young boy, sparking a lifelong passion for genealogy. After decades of correspondence and research, he wrote separate histories of his Foster and McFadden family relatives and descendants. He proudly joined the Sons of the American Revolution and the National Society of Magna Charta Barons after proving his lineages. Cooking, reading, antiquing, and cross-stitching were other cherished hobbies, though love of family was life’s foremost joy. His kindness and generosity earned him much love and respect.
Robert is survived by his wife, Jan, of Durant, OK; one daughter, Kara, and her husband Dr. Brandon Sumner of Denison, TX; one son, Dr. Jonathan McFadden, of Washington, DC; two sisters, Patricia Regier of Newton, KS and Janice Rages and husband Dan of Hutchinson, KS; one brother, Mike McFadden, of Topeka, KS; two grandchildren, Lauren and Emma Sumner, of Denison, TX; and several nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.
A funeral service will be held at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 10:00 AM with Rev. James Bowden officiating. The family visitation will be at Holmes Coffey Murray Funeral Home, Durant, on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 during 5:00-8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to either: The Dr. Robert McFadden Music Scholarship at the Southeastern Foundation, 425 W. University Blvd., Fund No. 0148, Durant, OK 74701 or The Leaves nursing facility at 1230 West Spring Valley Rd., Richardson, TX 75080."
"Dr. Robert Theodore McFadden, Professor Emeritus of Music at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, passed away peacefully in his home in Durant, OK on March 3, 2018. He was born on June 9, 1949 in Dodge City, KS, the son and eldest child of Theodore Frank and Bertha Mary (Foster) McFadden.
Robert spent his childhood on his parents’ farm near Montezuma, KS. Having received his first piano lesson at the age of four from an aunt, he went on to complete his undergraduate studies in piano at Wichita State University. He then earned an M.M. degree at the University of Michigan, studying with Marian Owen Hunt. After teaching at Hesston College in Kansas and South Carolina State University, he began work on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of Kansas, studying with Richard Angeletti. On July 29, 1983, he married the love of his life, Jan, in Lawrence, KS. He joined the music faculty of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1984 and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1986.
Robert’s diverse talents shaped and inspired many lives - students, faculty, fellow musicians, choir members, and churchgoers - over the course of a distinguished 31-year career. He taught private piano, music history, and music literature and appreciation at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He also served as an accompanist for the Southeastern Chorale, Opera Theatre, and numerous vocal recitalists. As a concert pianist, he performed in England and Mexico City, as well as California, Florida, and other areas of the United States. Later in life, he presided over the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association during 2006-08 and was honored as a Foundation Fellow of the Music Teachers National Association in 2009.
He was a longtime pianist and organist at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church in Denison, TX. He was the pianist and a member and reader of the Christian Science Church in Denison, TX.
He began writing letters to family members - both near and distant - as a young boy, sparking a lifelong passion for genealogy. After decades of correspondence and research, he wrote separate histories of his Foster and McFadden family relatives and descendants. He proudly joined the Sons of the American Revolution and the National Society of Magna Charta Barons after proving his lineages. Cooking, reading, antiquing, and cross-stitching were other cherished hobbies, though love of family was life’s foremost joy. His kindness and generosity earned him much love and respect.
Robert is survived by his wife, Jan, of Durant, OK; one daughter, Kara, and her husband Dr. Brandon Sumner of Denison, TX; one son, Dr. Jonathan McFadden, of Washington, DC; two sisters, Patricia Regier of Newton, KS and Janice Rages and husband Dan of Hutchinson, KS; one brother, Mike McFadden, of Topeka, KS; two grandchildren, Lauren and Emma Sumner, of Denison, TX; and several nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.
A funeral service will be held at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 10:00 AM with Rev. James Bowden officiating. The family visitation will be at Holmes Coffey Murray Funeral Home, Durant, on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 during 5:00-8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to either: The Dr. Robert McFadden Music Scholarship at the Southeastern Foundation, 425 W. University Blvd., Fund No. 0148, Durant, OK 74701 or The Leaves nursing facility at 1230 West Spring Valley Rd., Richardson, TX 75080."
Robert spent his childhood on his parents’ farm near Montezuma, KS. Having received his first piano lesson at the age of four from an aunt, he went on to complete his undergraduate studies in piano at Wichita State University. He then earned an M.M. degree at the University of Michigan, studying with Marian Owen Hunt. After teaching at Hesston College in Kansas and South Carolina State University, he began work on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of Kansas, studying with Richard Angeletti. On July 29, 1983, he married the love of his life, Jan, in Lawrence, KS. He joined the music faculty of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1984 and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1986.
Robert’s diverse talents shaped and inspired many lives - students, faculty, fellow musicians, choir members, and churchgoers - over the course of a distinguished 31-year career. He taught private piano, music history, and music literature and appreciation at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He also served as an accompanist for the Southeastern Chorale, Opera Theatre, and numerous vocal recitalists. As a concert pianist, he performed in England and Mexico City, as well as California, Florida, and other areas of the United States. Later in life, he presided over the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association during 2006-08 and was honored as a Foundation Fellow of the Music Teachers National Association in 2009.
He was a longtime pianist and organist at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church in Denison, TX. He was the pianist and a member and reader of the Christian Science Church in Denison, TX.
He began writing letters to family members - both near and distant - as a young boy, sparking a lifelong passion for genealogy. After decades of correspondence and research, he wrote separate histories of his Foster and McFadden family relatives and descendants. He proudly joined the Sons of the American Revolution and the National Society of Magna Charta Barons after proving his lineages. Cooking, reading, antiquing, and cross-stitching were other cherished hobbies, though love of family was life’s foremost joy. His kindness and generosity earned him much love and respect.
Robert is survived by his wife, Jan, of Durant, OK; one daughter, Kara, and her husband Dr. Brandon Sumner of Denison, TX; one son, Dr. Jonathan McFadden, of Washington, DC; two sisters, Patricia Regier of Newton, KS and Janice Rages and husband Dan of Hutchinson, KS; one brother, Mike McFadden, of Topeka, KS; two grandchildren, Lauren and Emma Sumner, of Denison, TX; and several nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.
A funeral service will be held at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 10:00 AM with Rev. James Bowden officiating. The family visitation will be at Holmes Coffey Murray Funeral Home, Durant, on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 during 5:00-8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to either: The Dr. Robert McFadden Music Scholarship at the Southeastern Foundation, 425 W. University Blvd., Fund No. 0148, Durant, OK 74701 or The Leaves nursing facility at 1230 West Spring Valley Rd., Richardson, TX 75080."
