Roland "Bill" Martin Washburn

A real pioneer, Roland M. “Bill” Washburn, loving husband, father and grandfather has completed his physical sojourn on earth, surrounded by his devoted eternal wife of 49 years, 5 months and 13 days, children and grandchildren at age 73 in his home in Mesa, Arizona on Tuesday, July 24, 2012. He was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin's lymphoma on March 13, 2012.

Bill was born on Wednesday, September 7, 1938 in his grandparents’ farmhouse in Cowley, Big Horn County, Wyoming, first son of Roland Washburn and Lavon Martin. He is survived by his wife, eight of his nine children and four siblings, Kay Canterbury, Jerry Washburn, Susan Bennion and Patty Williams. He spent time in his early years living with his family in various northern Wyoming towns and fondly remembers painting, coloring and drawing with his cousins, Donna and Dixie.

He always had a love for music and at an early age started to play various instruments in bands with his father and friends. His love and ability with music led to a music scholarship to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah from May 1956 through December 1958. Then amidst his “budding” music career, he accepted a call to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) from January 1959 to August 1961 in the Swiss-Austrian Mission. He returned with a testimony and love for the Savior, coupled with his love for music, that led to a life filled with purpose and direction. Two more years were devoted to completing a liberal arts degree from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington from September 1961 to May 1963.

In the midst of this busy time he met and married his beautiful bride, Mary Juanita Abbott, and they were sealed in the LDS Logan Temple in Logan, Utah on February 12, 1963. Bill and Juanita have nine children plus their spouses; Matthew (deceased 3/10/1964), Cindy & Jeff Brannen, Becky & Bryan Heward, Bill & Tina, Dan & Michelle, Sarah & Ed Ulrich, Tim & Karla, James & Marianne and Mary & Wes Filhart. There are 23 grandchildren; predeceased by Waylon (3/13/2008), plus two more on the way by the year's end.

Bill’s entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic provided for his family in a provident way. He’s probably best known for Washburn Musicland where he spent most of his career selling and (his favorite) instructing many to love making music. He was always concerned about his clients and lived by the golden rule; this was evident right up to his final days.

No doubt his favorite accomplishment was having his family close to him, close to each other and close to God. He lived and taught his family to live faithful to God, believe in the plan of happiness, laid out before each of us, and to endure to the end. Bill knew this country, our liberties and heritage play a vital role in our eternal progress and was a real patriot. He accomplished this and demonstrated to all: How? With integrity. How much? With all diligence. What? A disciple.

Services will be held at LDS Chapel on 940 E Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85204 as follows: Visitation: Friday, July 27, 6-8 PM; Viewing: Saturday, July 28, 9-9:45 AM; Funeral: Saturday, July 28, 10-11 AM and Graveside at Mariposa Gardens: Saturday, July 28 at 400 S Power Rd Mesa, AZ 85206. Funeral arrangements made by: Melcher Mortuary 480-964-4537 or http://www.melcherchapelofroses.com.