Wayne McFarland

Dr. Wayne “Packy” McFarland, age 84, of Dover, and a longtime resident and former Mayor of Newcomerstown, passed away Sunday, January 18, 2009, in Park Village Health Care Center at Dover following a brief illness.Born at Newcomerstown, December 9, 1924, he was a son of the late Wayne Leroy and Effie Hazel Walters McFarland. After graduating from Newcomerstown High School in 1942, Packy honorably served our country as part of General Patton’s European Theatre Army during the Battle of the Bulge. At the time of his discharge, he had earned the rank of lieutenant.While in high school and thereafter, Packy was a genuine sport enthusiast. An avid golfer, he was a familiar face at Union Country Club, especially on Wednesday evening’s when he and his golfing buddies gathered for dinner with their wives. Packy loved the Newcomerstown community where he was an active participant in the Rotary Club, the Benevolent & Protective Order of The Elks, and the American Legion and V.F.W. Most notably, Packy served his village as Mayor for six years during the 1990’s.Education and scholarship was paramount to Packy. In 1949, he received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. He went on to earn his mater’s degree and ultimately his doctoral degree from Columbia University in 1954 and 1959 respectively.His many decades of service as an educator included his work as principal of Dependents School, from 1952 to 1957 at the US 3rd Air Force base in England. He then accepted a teaching position at Scarsdale Elementary School. Then he became an elementary school principal in Caldwell, New Jersey. He would then join the faculty at Rutgers University in New Jersey for two years, then 4 years on the faculty at New York University. A majority of his professional career was as a professor of physical education and the athletic director at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.In 1985, Packy married his loving wife, the former Natalie Elizabeth Bean, of Dover, who survives. He also leaves behind three sons; Dr. Jeffrey W. (wife Sofia) McFarland of China, William C. McFarland and Samuel A. (wife Lori) McFarland, all of St. Louis, Missouri, two grandchildren; Saga and Axel McFarland, his sister-in-law; Jean McFarland Dessecker, his former wife; Marjorie C. McFarland of St. Louis, Missouri. Numerous extended relatives complete the family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Robert McFarland.Friends are invited to call Sunday, January 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover. Pastor Don Silverthorne will lead a service celebrating Packy’s life Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover. Burial will immediately follow the service in West Lawn Cemetery at Newcomerstown.Packy loved the community of Newcomerstown. Accordingly, his family requests that memorial contributions be made to his Newcomerstown Rotary Club, P.O. Box 609, Newcomerstown, OH 43832, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.