Fred Waddell was born February 1, 1936, and passed away October 14, 2026, at the age of 90.

After graduating from Holmes High (Covington, KY) in 1954, he entered the Army and studied Russian at the Army Language School in Monterey, CA, where he became a Russian linguist in Signals Intelligence with the Army Security Agency for three years. After Army service, he attended the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1961, and worked for the NSA and CIA for brief periods before pursuing graduate studies at Kansas State University, receiving an MS in 1965 and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in 1981.

Dr. Waddell was known for having developed a method of counseling (Solution Focused Financial Counseling) for financial counselors and other persons with responsibilities for counseling others, but who had no prior training in mental health or counseling. He and his wife, Beverly, trained over 12,000 financial and mental health counselors in the U.S. and Canada, including U.S. Navy family counselors worldwide by satellite, and mental health counselors with the international Employee Assistance Program at Ceridian Inc. in Minneapolis. He and his wife formed a publishing company, Genesis Press, to publish his training manual, Solution Focused Financial Coaching, and related counseling materials, as well as those of his peers throughout the country. The manual was used as a textbook in five U.S. universities and sold internationally in 26 different countries, including a Korean edition used at Seoul University in Korea. He published six more books, three by his own publishing company and three by other publishers.

Fred and Bev were avid outdoor enthusiasts, white-water rafting on 27 rivers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Alaska, including honeymoon and anniversary trips down Cataract Canyon and the Grand Canyon. They were members of SML's Ridge Runner Hiking Club and hiked every summer in the continental U.S. and Alaska, Canada, Newfoundland, and Ireland.

Upon retiring to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, he and Bev focused on philanthropic activities. Fred established an annual scholarship (the Waddell Scholarship) at the University of Kentucky for high school students whose family members were totally dependent on them for their care while the students were still in high school. He established a similar college scholarship for high school graduates in Northern Kentucky named after his sister, the Linda Lee Waddell Scholarship.

In 2019, at the Covington Education Foundation Hall of Honors ceremony, Fred was inducted into his alma mater, Holmes High School's Wall of Distinction, with this statement: "In recognition of contributions to your profession, your community, and through your deeds, bringing honor to Holmes High School."

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Emerson Waddell and Bonnie (Spaulding) Moore, and his sister, Linda (Waddell) Kopp. He leaves his wife, Beverly Barrett Waddell; a daughter, Kristin (Waddell) Keepers; and a son, Todd Spaulding Waddell; four grandchildren, Emily (Kapfer) Mora, Howard Kapfer V, Caleb and Ethan Waddell; and one great-granddaughter, Essie Santana Mora.

Services have not yet been announced, but Fred has requested that, instead of flowers, people provide a book bag for incoming students or donate to a fund that provides book bags, such as the SML Good Neighbors Foundation.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Smith Mountain Lake, is assisting the family.