Frederick Troupe Mickler III

Frederick Troupe Mickler III, known as “Rusty,” died from Parkinson's disease on May 23, 2026, at the age of 77. He was born on June 3, 1948, in Atlanta to Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Troupe Mickler Jr. (Beverly Patterson). After graduating from Hamilton County High School in Jasper, Florida, Rusty earned a B.A. in History from Davidson College in 1970 and a J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1973. Rusty married Deborah Ann Haston on August 29, 1970.

Rusty and Deborah moved to Columbia, South Carolina, in 1980, where he retired as General Counsel from Farm Credit Bank (now AgFirst) after 31 years.

Rusty grew up swimming in the Suwannee River, playing football, basketball, and baseball, and running track at HCHS. He loved an SAE band party and spending his free time camping, kayaking, and hiking, as well as cheering on the Gators and Wildcats, traveling with Deborah, visiting Brevard, reading non-fiction, and taking long walks through Columbia.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Deborah; his children Brooke Mickler Martin (Michael) of Auburn, Alabama, and Frederick Troupe Mickler IV (Kimberly) of West Grove, Pennsylvania; his grandchildren Jacob Forrest Martin, Samuel Baxley Martin, Ann Morrow Martin, Frederick Troupe "Quin" Mickler V, and Gray Margerite Mickler; as well as his siblings Sam Mickler, Beverly Mickler Brown, Ben Mickler, Bill Mickler, and Jon Mickler, and many wonderful sisters- and brothers-in-law and nieces and nephews.

A special thanks to the staff of Carroll Campbell Place, Westminster Memory Care, MSA Hospice, and Evelene Bowman, for their loving care of Rusty in his final months.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 25, at 10:00 a.m. at Washington Street United Methodist Church in Columbia, with a reception to follow at the Ascot Clubhouse, Steeple Ridge Road, Irmo.

In memory of Rusty, donations may be made to The Davidson Trust (https://community.davidson.edu/gift-form, Davidson College, PO Box 5000, Davidson, NC 28035), which makes it possible for students from all backgrounds to attend Davidson College.