Charles Victor Mcfarland

C. Victor McFarland (August 8, 1930 - August 8, 2016).

Known as “Vic” to the world and as “Bud” to his brothers, Victor McFarland was born in Paw Paw West Virginia on August 8, 1930 to Stanley and Edna McFarland, a Methodist Minister and a school teacher. He was the second of five brothers, Stanley, Vic (“Bud”), John (“Tad”), Carter (“Wink”) and Jim (“Judd”). The family moved to Hancock, MD and then Randallstown where he had his fondest childhood memories, growing up with his rambunctious brothers, loving parents and his much loved “Auntie”, his mother’s aunt, who helped raise the boys. He often described his childhood in growing up in Randallstown as idyllic and never tired of telling the stories. With four brothers, there were plenty of those. As a young boy, Vic was twice stricken with rheumatic fever, a very serious illness at the time.  His doctors didn’t give him much of chance of surviving, but Vic proved them wrong, by a lot, and lived to the fine old age of 86. He attributed his recovery to drinking a lot of spinach juice, and his mother, who would sing to him just to annoy him and make him get out of bed.

Vic graduated from Catonsville High School in 1949. He was voted most artistic in his class. He had a natural artistic talent that he never pursued, but occasionally trotted out to amaze his family. Vic met the lovely Joan Liebno at a dance at Randallstown Junior High where he picked her out of a group of girls and asked her to dance. A few years later, Vic and Joan married on June 14, 1952, ages 21 and 18. Kids followed, Bonnie (1955), Barry (1958) and Brian (1966). The family first settled in Woodlawn and then moved to Catonsville in 1971.

After serving in the Maryland National Guard, Vic attended undergraduate and law school at the University of Baltimore.  He graduated in 1954 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1955. After stints with an F&D Insurance, the Bureau of Land Acquisition, the Assistant States Attorney’s Office, and time as a Trial Magistrate, Vic co-founded a law firm with Bill Trueth on Frederick Road in Catonsville in 1968. Describing himself as a “main street lawyer”, he continued to practice law In Catonsville until he was 74 years old. In 1993, his son, Brian join Vic and his late partner, Ken Masters, and formed McFarland & Masters.  The firm, still bearing his name, is located on Frederick Road in Catonsville.

Vic served as President of the Catonsville Business Association in 1975-76 and was honored as Catonsville Citizen of the Year in 1981. He served as President of the Baltimore County Bar Association in 1983. He was also active in many community organizations, including, the Southwest Coalition, the St. Agnes Hospital Hospice program, Catonsville 2000 and the Board of Trustees of Catonsville United Methodist Church.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Vic became an avid hunter and fisherman. He belonged to Hunting Ridge Rod and Gun Club in Lost River, West Virginia and frequented his family’s hunting cabin in Allegheny County’s Green Ridge State Forest, where he hunted and fished with his sons, brothers and nephews.

Vic is survived by his wife, 3 children, 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and 3 of his brothers.