Fred N. Finn, 99, of Monticello, died Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Piatt County Nursing Home in Monticello.
Fred was born on October 20, 1923 in Long Beach, California, to Fred L. Finn and Jane (Laura) Finn. On August 6, 1949, he married his survivor Ruth Savage. Fred and Ruth had a loving and supportive marriage together for over 73 years that he cherished. Along with Ruth, Fred is survived by Monticello’s daughter Laurie (Leonard) Lumery, son Neil Finn, grandson Jackson Finn of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and his granddaughter Anne Lumery (Drew Whiting). Oshkosh, Wisconsin He left his family and many of his good friends far away to cherish his memories.
Fred grew up in Yuma, Arizona and excelled in tennis throughout high school, college and the military, winning numerous singles and doubles titles. He attended the University of Arizona and the University of New Mexico, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Fred received his master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He served in his ROTC in college and in the last cavalry battalion before being transferred to the Navy. Fred was very proud to be a Navy Seabee stationed on Okinawa during World War II. He continued his career in pavement design, including the birth of the interstate highway system, then specialized in pavement design for extreme climates, traveling to Saudi Arabia and Brazil, where he worked on pavement design for landing strips at major international airports. I worked on it. He later helped design roads along the Alaska Pipeline. He was known and respected nationally and internationally as the “father” of pavement management systems. Among his many accolades and awards, perhaps culminating was admission to the National Academy of Engineering, his recommendation of the highest degree.
Fred was humble, caring, and wanted the best for his family and the world around him. rushed into. He works with Face in Action. He served the Monticello United Methodist Church in many capacities. He is a member of the Tutman Foundation Board of Directors and is working on the development of the Senior Center. For all these and other activities, Monticello was awarded the “Citizen Of The Year – 2002”. Fred was embarrassed by the accolades, preferring to serve quietly behind the scenes. He was granted an extended stay on this planet and made the most of it. We should all be encouraged to live a life that shows that he cares for his family, respects his fellow travelers, and wishes for world peace.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 1, 2020 at the Monticello United Methodist Church on E. Washington Street, Monticello. In lieu of flowers, you can donate to the Piatt County Ecumenical Food Pantry, 2020 E. Washington St, Monticello, IL 61856. United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) or Habitat for Humanity of Piatt County, PO Box 611, Monticello, IL 61856.
You can send your condolences to the bereaved family. www.mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com.
