Theodore "Ted" Major

Lt. Theodore (Ted) Major USNR (b. Theodore Maciejewski) was born on August 10, 1925, on the family farm in Paw Paw, Michigan to Nikodem & Valentina Maciejewski. He was younger brother to Edmund, and older brother to Eleanor and Carl. He attended Riverside School and Paw Paw High School where he excelled in academics and athletics. He attended Western Michigan University, Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Michigan. While at IIT, he lettered in baseball, once playing at the Wrigley Field. He remained a lifelong supporter of the University of Michigan. 

He was commissioned as an Officer in the US Navy in 1945. He returned home from his Military duties in World War II to marry Bettie Jean Skyles on September 18, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois. He served in the Korean War, and upon return in 1952, moved his growing family to Fort Wayne, Indiana and worked as a Design Engineer for Magnavox. 

In 1988, he retired from Magnavox and returned to his beloved hometown of Paw Paw, Michigan and Maple Lake. In retirement he remained busy spearheading numerous community projects. He was named Paw Paw Man of the Year in 1998 for his many Civic activities. He was also President of two Rotary Clubs, and a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He was honored to serve as Paw Paw Holiday Parade Grand Marshall. He served as an active member of the Michigan Farm Bureau, Van Buren Land Preservation, and Paw Paw Park & Recreation Boards. 

Ted was preceded in death with his beloved wife Bettie Jean on July 6, 2008. Ted was a father of three sons: Gregory (deceased 2014) married to Elaine Warnock Major, John Michael, and Glenn Norman married to Usha Vyas-Major. He was a grandfather to Caroline (m. Jason Dombrowski), Blake (m. Mandy), Ajay (m. Jacob Walker), Maya. He is survived by five great grandchildren: Caleb, Noah, Lauren, Eve, and Clara.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home, 502 W. Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw. Ted will be laid to rest with full military honors at Fort Custer National Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Maple Lake Association c/o Adams Funeral Home 502 West Michigan Ave, Paw Paw, MI 49079.