Dennis
Dennis Paul Mcfaden
d. June 4, 2022
Dennis Paul McFaden, 67, of Goode, VA beloved husband, father and papa passed away on June 4, 2022, at his home after a brave eight-year battle with cancer. He was the devoted husband of his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Diane McFaden, for 48 years.
Born on December 21, 1954, in Lynchburg, VA, he was the son of the late Calvin Eugene and Peggy T. McFaden. Dennis was a graduate of E.C. Glass High School. It was there that his love of the military began when he was a member of the Air Force Junior ROTC.
Upon graduation from high school, Dennis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in July 1974. Dennis was considered a “Marine’s Marine” and was respectfully referred to as, “Gunny Mac” by his peers. Throughout his military service, he excelled in the fundamental values of the Marine Corps: honor, courage, and commitment. This, and his strong work ethic, led to his successful military career. Dennis and his family experienced numerous duty stations in North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, California, and Virginia which catered well to his love of travel. In 1983-84, while on an unaccompanied tour of duty in Okinawa, Japan, Dennis and Diane met in Hawaii to celebrate their ten-year wedding anniversary. This was a very special moment in their marriage and fostered a love of the Hawaiian Islands within the McFaden family. Dennis retired from the Marine Corps in 1994 with an honorable discharge.
While stationed in Okinawa, Dennis cultivated a love of scuba diving and spent many hours in Japan and various U.S. coastal locations pursuing this hobby. In addition to diving, Dennis enjoyed amateur radio and was an avid aviator, earning his pilot’s license at age 17 in 1973. Later in life, he enjoyed watching his grandson, Matt, discover his own love of flying and pursue his own pilot’s license.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Diane C. McFaden; two children, Steven D. McFaden and wife, Erika; Sherry McFaden-Meyer and husband, Ross Meyer; four grandchildren: Delaney McFaden, Mathias (Matt) McFaden, Catherine Meyer, and Lindsey Meyer; three sisters, Carolan Mays, Leslie McFaden and spouse, Mary Beth Wiley, Rhonda Basham and husband, Brian, and numerous nieces and nephews. Dennis also had a close relationship with his wife’s family, especially Bonnie and Bob Shank, his sister-in-law and her husband, as well as Wayne and Wanda Cornelius, his brother-in-law and wife.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to the wonderful staff at the Alan B. Pearson Cancer Center, particularly Dr. John MacNeill, for the loving care they provided Dennis.
The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at Tharp Funeral Chapel, Bedford. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Tharp Funeral Home Chapel, Bedford with the Rev. John Boyles officiating. Interment with military honors by the Marine Corps Reserves will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alan B. Pearson Cancer Center or the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign 314 Graves Mill Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, is assisting the family.
Born on December 21, 1954, in Lynchburg, VA, he was the son of the late Calvin Eugene and Peggy T. McFaden. Dennis was a graduate of E.C. Glass High School. It was there that his love of the military began when he was a member of the Air Force Junior ROTC.
Upon graduation from high school, Dennis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in July 1974. Dennis was considered a “Marine’s Marine” and was respectfully referred to as, “Gunny Mac” by his peers. Throughout his military service, he excelled in the fundamental values of the Marine Corps: honor, courage, and commitment. This, and his strong work ethic, led to his successful military career. Dennis and his family experienced numerous duty stations in North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, California, and Virginia which catered well to his love of travel. In 1983-84, while on an unaccompanied tour of duty in Okinawa, Japan, Dennis and Diane met in Hawaii to celebrate their ten-year wedding anniversary. This was a very special moment in their marriage and fostered a love of the Hawaiian Islands within the McFaden family. Dennis retired from the Marine Corps in 1994 with an honorable discharge.
While stationed in Okinawa, Dennis cultivated a love of scuba diving and spent many hours in Japan and various U.S. coastal locations pursuing this hobby. In addition to diving, Dennis enjoyed amateur radio and was an avid aviator, earning his pilot’s license at age 17 in 1973. Later in life, he enjoyed watching his grandson, Matt, discover his own love of flying and pursue his own pilot’s license.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Diane C. McFaden; two children, Steven D. McFaden and wife, Erika; Sherry McFaden-Meyer and husband, Ross Meyer; four grandchildren: Delaney McFaden, Mathias (Matt) McFaden, Catherine Meyer, and Lindsey Meyer; three sisters, Carolan Mays, Leslie McFaden and spouse, Mary Beth Wiley, Rhonda Basham and husband, Brian, and numerous nieces and nephews. Dennis also had a close relationship with his wife’s family, especially Bonnie and Bob Shank, his sister-in-law and her husband, as well as Wayne and Wanda Cornelius, his brother-in-law and wife.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to the wonderful staff at the Alan B. Pearson Cancer Center, particularly Dr. John MacNeill, for the loving care they provided Dennis.
The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at Tharp Funeral Chapel, Bedford. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Tharp Funeral Home Chapel, Bedford with the Rev. John Boyles officiating. Interment with military honors by the Marine Corps Reserves will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alan B. Pearson Cancer Center or the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign 314 Graves Mill Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dennis Paul Mcfaden, please visit our flower store.
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