Frederick Langdon Dearborn

Frederick Langdon Dearborn, 84, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, Sunday, September 21, 2025 on his farm near Danville, Kentucky. Fred was born February 23, 1941 in Houston, Texas where he attended St. John's School, and later, Southern Arizona School in Tucson where he developed strong interests in horses, polo and the outdoors. He graduated in 1964 from Trinity University in San Antonio with a degree in Political Science and Economics, where he excelled at playing polo and was a member of the San Antonio Polo Club.

A true patriot, after graduation he received his commission as 2nd Lt. from ROTC and then served two years in Vietnam as an Army Airborne Combat Engineer with an Army Civil Affairs Unit assigned to the US Marines in Da Nang. After being honorably discharged and promoted to the rank of Captain, Fred returned home to play polo professionally coast to coast and was associated with clubs in Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee and Kentucky.

At a US Open Polo Tournament in Memphis, Fred fell in love with, and later married, Louise Day Oates, the daughter of long standing family friends. During the next decade, Fred and Louise lived and worked on various farms and ranches in Colorado, Florida, Oregon and Tennessee while starting their family. In 1983, Fred and Louise realized their dream of having a farm of their own when they purchased Fieldstone Farm in Boyle County, Kentucky, where he bred, raised and trained Thoroughbreds, polo ponies and Belgian horses. He was a gifted horseman and even after retiring from riding, Fred pivoted to carriage driving. He loved his new sport of Combined Driving with his Morgan horses and enjoyed the camaraderie at carriage driving events. An antique collector at heart, he admired wooden boats, old cars, carriages and well built shotguns. He prized a beautiful horse and a good hunting dog.

He frequented the trails at Shaker Village on horseback, and later in his carriages, and worked closely with The Village to expand their trail system. As a keen sportsman and dedicated preservationist, he also encouraged and promoted the inclusion of wildlife habitat in their management plan.

Fred was a colorful character who was loved and respected by his many friends. He had an innate sense of fairness, a love of life and a wonderful, often surprising, sense of humor. He was a strong Christian with a childlike faith, a grateful heart and a generous spirit. He thanked God every morning for the gift of a new day and all his many blessings.

He was a member of: The Rotary Club of Danville, St. Andrews Anglican Church of Versailles, The Thoroughbred Club of America, and The Carriage Association of America.

Fred is survived by his wife of 56 years, Louise, his children William Langdon Dearborn (Piper), John Lucian Dearborn (Alice) and Katharine Dearborn Magruder (Charlie) and his eight grandchildren who he adored: Langdon Carver Dearborn, Henry Payne Dearborn, William Cartwright Dearborn, Taylor Alexander Dearborn, Robert Lucian Dearborn, Cecilia Jane Dearborn, Charles Paxton Magruder, and Samuel Lachlan Magruder. He is also survived by his niece, Elizabeth Lancey Bruce (Peter) and his nephew, Kenneth Lancey (Tallie). He is preceded in death by his parents Langdon and Elizabeth Goodridge Dearborn, and his brother and sister John Langdon Dearborn and Susan Dearborn Landon.

His family would like to thank his wonderful caregivers from Visiting Angels and Heritage Hospice. Their compassion and friendship was an immense comfort to Fred and his entire family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to: St. Andrews Anglican Church in Versailles, The Bluegrass Conservancy, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, or Heritage Hospice.

Fred will have a private inurnment at Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday October 17, 2025 from 4 to 6 at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, 3421 Harrodsburg Rd, Lexington. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Andrews Anglican Church in Versailles on Saturday October, 18 2025 at 1:00, followed by a reception.