University Mourns the Passing of Prof. Emeritus Ned MacPhail  

August 30, 2015

Ned Brown MacPhail, a professor of education studies at DePauw University for 36 years, died this morning at his home in Greencastle.  He was 82 years old.

Born October 5, 1932 in San Antonio, Texas, McPhail received his bachelor's degree from Ball State University. After a stint in the United States Army he earned his master's degree from the University of Michigan and received his doctorate in education from the George Peabody School for Teachers, associated with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. (top photo: the professor in 1965)

Dr. MacPhail came to DePauw University in 1962 and served as a professor in education, teaching philosophy of education and monitoring student teachers from DePauw at area schools. He also served as the department chairman for seven years, retiring from DePauw in 1998.  He served on various committees at the university and was part of the NCATE (National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education) evaluation team for the State of Indiana.

The professor was also a member of the Ducks of Dixieland Jazz Band, made up of DePauw faculty members, and was an accomplished painter.

Survivors include his wife, Josephine "Jo" R. (Wagoner) MacPhail, an instruction and information librarian at DePauw who retired with the rank of associate professor.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 3 at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, with interment to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

An online obituary is available here.

Back