William (Bill) Michael McCabe, Jr.

Bill McCabe died peacefully at home in Wilmington, DE on June 10th, 2012. Bill was born in Nashville, TN in 1924, the son of Dr. Wm. Michael McCabe, Sr. and Lucinda Frances Jones, the grandson of natives of Ireland, Bernard McCabe and Winifred Frances Feerick. He graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, TN. Bill studied at Vanderbilt University, and received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a member of the Yellow Jackets football team and competed in the 1945 Orange Bowl. As part of the Navy V-12 Program he studied Naval Science at Cornell University and was then stationed in Portland, OR. Upon completion of his Naval Service, he began a 38-year career with the DuPont Company, which took him to Old Hickory, TN, New York City, NY, Charlotte, NC, Akron, OH, Wilmington, DE, Geneva, Switzerland and back to Wilmington, DE. He retired in 1984. Bill was a member of Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, DE since 1969. He served on the vestry, Every Member Canvas, and H.F. duPont Servers Guild. Bill was a member of Greenville Country Club since 1963. In other community activities he was President of West City Centre Day Care for ten years, and volunteered at Longwood Gardens for over a decade. Bill was a patron of the arts, and collector. He had a passion for flying beginning his solo flights at age 13. He was a veteran world traveler having explored and worked on all continents except the poles. Bill loved gliding, skiing, golf and tennis, but most of all providing opportunities for education and advancement for members of his community, and family. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Julia (Judy) Merrick McCabe, Wm. Michael (Mike) McCabe III and wife Maria of Chadds Ford, PA; George Merrick (Rick) McCabe and wife Alexandra of Sewickley, PA; and Frances Winifred (Wendy) McCabe and her companion Sylvester Southern of Wilmington NC; and granddaughters Kira Ariana Dix, Morgan Elisabeth, Mericka Brooke Dix, and Alix Victoria. Bill's family is grateful for the compassion and care provided by Vernice, Michele, Joy, Jorie, and the staff at Right at Home, Robert, Claire and all Delaware Hospice caregivers. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Christiana Hundred Greenville, DE at 11:00 on Thursday, June 14th. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in Bill's memory to the Delaware Chapter of the National M.S. Society, or Christ Church Christiana Hundred Greenville, DE.