George Winfield McNelly, of Dowagiac

Published 8:39 am Thursday, July 18, 2019

March 26, 1926 — July 12, 2019

George Winfield McNelly, 93, of Dowagiac, formerly of Lafayette, Indiana, passed away Friday, July 12, 2019, at Spectrum Lakeland Health St. Joseph.

A graveside service for George will be hosted privately with his family. He will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery.

A memorial reception will be in early August. Memorial contributions may be made to a scholarship already established at Purdue University in honor of Dr. George W. McNelly or to the Dowagiac Public Library. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence for the family may do so online at clarkch.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Clark Chapel & Cremation Services (269) 782-2135.

George was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 26, 1926, to Monroe Delano and Myrtle Mae (Heckman) McNelly.

He was a 1944 graduate of McKinley High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. George proudly served his country in the U.S. navy from 1944 until he was honorably discharged in 1946.

On Aug. 20, 1950, he married Beverly Louise McMains in Bloomfield, Iowa. He then went on to receive his B.S. degree in chemistry from Coe College, his master’s degree in applied psychology from Iowa State University and lastly, his PhD from Purdue University in industrial psychology. George was a professor at Purdue University in industrial psychology. He was the dean of the school of technology for 21 years.

George is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Louise; daughter, Diane (David) McPherson, of Dallas, Texas; son, Eric (Julie) McNelly, of Lafayette, Indiana; grandchildren, Blayne (Natosha) McNelly and Elizabeth McPherson and great-grandson Jase McNelly.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Sterling McNelly and grandson, Andrew Steven Ross McPherson.