Barbara Houck McFadden

Barbara Houck McFadden, 80, of Hendersonville passed away on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013.

Mrs. McFadden was born and grew up in Dearborn, Mich., the daughter of Jesse Houck and Linda Martin Houck. She worked for several years in the automotive industry as an Executive Secretary for the Ford Motor Company. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Doug, and her beloved husband of 50 years, Walt.

Mrs. McFadden moved to Hendersonville in 1978 from Kalamazoo, Mich., when her husband was transferred here to manage a plant start-up for Eaton Corporation. After moving to Hendersonville, she worked for many years for the law firm of James H. Toms, and enjoyed her fellow employees and meeting so many new people. She was especially fond of her employer, Jim Toms and his family, from whom she learned so much about her new location and the city of Hendersonville.

She was a member of First Congregational Church and Pardee Hospital Auxiliary. She and her husband enjoyed golf and traveling; they were especially fond of Italy.

Mrs. McFadden is survived by two children, Sue McFadden Fetherston of Atlanta, Ga., and Michael McFadden of Hendersonville, and three grandchildren, Dylan and Marie Fetherston and Parker McFadden. She is also survived by two nephews, John Bailey and his wife, Sharon, and Jeff Bailey, and their families, and a very special niece, Judy Bailey and her husband, Michael Lund, and their family. Her nephew, Jim, the oldest of the four Bailey children, passed away in February 2011. He is survived by his wife, Chris, and their family.

She requested that no service be held and that family, friends, and acquaintances remember her for the loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend that she was. In keeping with her wishes, the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at Thos. Shepherd & Sons Funeral Directors.

Memorial gifts may be made to The ALS Association, DC/MD/VA Chapter, 7507 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855, to honor the loving care she and her children provided to her husband and their father while he battled Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), which took his life in 2005. To date, medical science knows little about the cause and has not found a means of prevention or a cure for this disease.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.