Washburn, Carroll Junior (1924-2012)

WASHBURN, CORRIGAN, DAVITT, HOEYE, MILLER, YORK, SHEA

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/29/2025 at 18:41:08

Carroll Junior Washburn
1924 - 2012
Guthrie Center, IA

AC/GC High School

Carroll Junior Washburn passed on January 4, 2012 in McAllen, Texas.

Junior was born to Carroll Cottrell Washburn and Nellie Maud (Corrigan) Washburn on August 5, 1924 in a small house just south of Guthrie Center, IA.

Junior graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1942.

Junior joined the United States Army in 1944 and was on a troop ship in the Pacific Theater when Japan surrendered.

He then served in Japan until his discharge in the fall of 1946.

Throughout his early life he worked with his father on the farm to support the family. They operated two farms raising cattle and hogs and until 1958.

They milked cows and provided dairy products through Washburn Dairy. They grew and harvested typical farm crops initially with horses and then with mechanization of tractors.

Junior continued to live on the farm until high school when his parents moved to a house on south 4th Street.

In 1949 Junior met a new teacher in town, Marilyn Davitt. They were married and dedicated their lives to raising four children. They started married life in the farm house where Junior was born.

After the devastating flood of 1958, the family moved to town while still operating the farms.

In addition to farming, Junior was employed at the local Post Office starting in the 1950s where he continued to work until his retirement in 1984.

Junior was always active in the local community.

He was a member of the local Legion post for over 60 years.

He helped judge and time local track meets for 25 years.

He helped judge and time swim meets for many years.

In the late 1960s Junior joined the Catholic Church and was a charter member of the local Knights of Columbus.

After Marilyn and Junior were both retired, they started spending winters in the McAllen, Texas area. They resided at San Juan Gardens in San Juan, Texas and then Aladdin Villas in Mission, Texas. While in Texas, they were both involved in their communities by leading and participating in activities and volunteering in events to make their communities better.

Junior loved visiting with people to learn about them and their families. He remembered these things naturally. He said that this just stuck in his brain. He was able to weave a web of connectedness which made life more interesting to him and those who he met.

Junior was a fourth generation rural Iowa farmer. His great grandfather Edward Washburn (1822-1906) moved to Guthrie County in the late 1860s. The first ancestors on his mother's side to move to Iowa were John (1789-1872) and Mary (1792-1872) Hoeye who moved to Dallas county in 1848.

He was preceded in death by his parents Carroll(1893-1960) and Maud (1893-1946) as well as his sister Lorene Miller (1915-1991).

He is survived by his wife Marilyn and children Margaret (Peg) York of Fredericksburg, Virginia, John Washburn of Des Moines, Jim Washburn of Solana Beach, California and Mary Jane Washburn of Verona, Wisconsin. He is also survived by three grandchildren Sally (York) Shea of Maryland, Kristin Washburn of St Paul, Minnesota and Jace Washburn of Rushford, Minnesota.

The body will be cremated and a memorial service will be held later in the year.

Cards may be sent to Marilyn Washburn, 418 Venus, Mission, TX 78572.

Memorial gifts may be offered to Timbercreek Therapies, 2400 Poplar Avenue,

Guthrie Center, IA 50115.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by the Des Moines (IA) Register on Jan. 6, 2012.