Dr. William O. McCabe, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home on August 31, 2010. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. William O. McCabe, Sr. and Lola Weeks McCabe, and son Stuart Lynn McCabe. He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Annis Trout McCabe, and their children, William O. McCabe III and fiancé, Christine Owen, Thomas Trout McCabe, and wife, Doris, Virginia Weeks McCabe, and husband, Jim Towner, Sarah McCabe Oakes, and husband, David, and daughter in law, Debra Harvey McCabe. His six grandchildren are Dylan James McCabe, Lily Ann McCabe, Jane Claire Bailey Dawkins, husband, Kelly, John McCabe Bailey, William Garrison Oakes, and Rebecca Elizabeth (Liza) Oakes. Also surviving is his brother, James Weeks McCabe and wife Shirley, brother-in-law Edward Trout and wife, Judy, and nieces and nephews Kimberly McCabe, Matthew McCabe and wife, Carla, David Trout, and wife Laura, and Natt Garland, and wife Stephanie.
Dr. McCabe graduated from Montvale High School, Bedford County in 1948, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, in 1952, and the Medical College of Virginia in 1956. Following his internship at Lewis Gale Hospital, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was assigned to the Medical Corps. At Fort Myer, he served as a family physician to the service dependants in the Military District of Washington. Among his fondest memories during this tour, are those of being physician to the Presidential Honor Guard, which included daily observations of the large white horses as they pulled the caissons through Arlington National Cemetery, and being present at the entombment of the second Unknown Soldier.
Through the Virginia Council on Health and Medical Care, he learned of an opening for a family physician in the then, rural Bedford County community of Forest. In August, 1959, he began occupying the small brick building which had been built by the citizens of Forest to attract a young physician. (This building still stands today as the Montessori School, next to the fire department).
Dr. McCabe practiced solo for 13 years, after which he sought partners to join him in a rapidly growing practice. The medical partnership eventually built a larger office on Elkton Farm Road, which housed the expanded practice, and a pharmacy. Forest Family Physicians became a source for training in the Family Practice Residency program of the Lynchburg area. Despite the demands of a very active and unusual family practice (which at one time, included service at four hospitals) Dr. McCabe also served as Chief of Staff at (then) Lynchburg General Hospital, and was a physician at St. John’s Nursing Home as well as the Student Health Center at Lynchburg College. He was the third doctor in the Lynchburg Academy of Medicine to receive the “Barney Award”, which he felt was the finest compliment that could be received from one’s peers. Although he officially retired from active practice in 1996, he continued to serve occasional patients in Forest, as well as the Free Clinic in Bedford until April, 2010.
When he was five, his father, Dr. William McCabe, Sr., died and he and his brother were raised at Ivy Pillars, the family farm in Thaxton. His responsibilities came early, from hand-milking cows, to hay raking, and even that of school bus driver. He sustained a life-long interest in livestock, and for twenty years he was in the purebred Charolais Cattle business. He eventually turned his interests to that of donkeys and draft horses, particularly Percherons.
As a child, he was taught to play the piano by his mother, and went on to learn to play the guitar and banjo. He passed this love of music along to all of his children, teaching his three sons to play stringed instruments; traditional Bluegrass music was a special joy for him. A life-long Methodist, he served his church in numerous capacities, but he especially enjoyed his role as bass in several church choirs over the years. Having a deep interest in the potential of his community, Dr. McCabe felt that the village of Forest should have its own bank. Consequently, he became a founder of the Community Bank of Forest, which grew over the years and was eventually acquired by B.B. & T.
After the death of their son, Stuart, in 1990, Dr. and Mrs. McCabe turned their newly purchased school building into the Sedalia Center. This community cultural arts center was dedicated as a memorial to honor Stuart. There they have placed much of their loving and creative attention in the years since. A celebration of Dr. Bill McCabe’s life will be held in the pavilion on the grounds at Sedalia Center at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 4, 2010 with a reception immediately following in the “Blue Room”. A private interment, for family only, will be later in the day.
The family wishes to extend deepest gratitude to the compassionate care provided by Carilion Clinic Hospice and Home Instead, to the congregation of Main Street United Methodist Church and to countless other friends and colleagues, both near and far.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Sedalia Center, 1108 Sedalia School Road, Big Island, Virginia 24526, or to Main Street United Methodist Church, 212 Main Street, Bedford, Virginia 24523. Arrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, 586-3443.
