Richard “Dick” E. Washburn

This obituary was originally published on Rogers & Breece Funeral Home.

Richard E. “Dick” Washburn passed away on June 12, 2024. Mr. Washburn was born in South Bend, Indiana on July 31, 1930. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic of Fayetteville. He served with the 456th Field Artillery Bn, 82nd Abn. Div. during the Korean War. From l959 through 1994, he served as a Deputy Sheriff, without interruption, under the administrations of three elected sheriffs, obtaining the rank of Chief Deputy. He also served 8 years as a Special Deputy United States Marshal in the Eastern District of North Carolina. He was a life member of the Knights of Pythias, a life member with the Fayetteville Chapter 82nd Airborne Division Association. He was on the board of directors at the Myrover/Reese Fellowship Homes, Cumberland County Rescue Squad, Cumberland County Rescue Squad, Cumberland County Substance Abuse Board at Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union. Mr. Washburn was instrumental in the formation of the Inter Agency Bureau of Narcotics. In the l960’s, he was influential in organizing The Cumberland County Democratic Men’s Club and the “Been There, Already Done That” breakfast group.

He is survived by three daughters, Kathryn Cockman of Fayetteville, Joann Ford of White Oak ,Brenda Boykin of Hamlet, and two stepdaughters, Vicki Hemingway of Fayetteville and Cynthia Jones, 18 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and good friend, Erlene Kerr. In South Bend, Indiana, he is survived by his sister, Loretta Van Overberghe and his brother, Joseph Siglawski.

Major Washburn was predeceased by his wife, Betty Jo Horne, and their daughter, Susan Tackett, and later by his second wife, Betty Lee Froneberger, brother, Ernest Washburn, and sister, Patricia Bolden.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 16, 2024, at Rogers and Breece Funeral Home from 5 to 7pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Patrick Catholic Church on Monday, June 17, 2024, at 12pm with Father Sparrow officiating. Interment will follow the service at Cumberland Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to the Pat Reese Rehab Home, 416 Wilkes Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306.