Vance Calvin Washburn

Vance Calvin Washburn, a man who loved many and was loved by all who knew him, was born on a tobacco farm in Springfield, Kentucky on September 14th, 1923. His father, Albert, was a sharecropper and his mother, Lula, was a homemaker who kept after Vance and his six siblings. Vance spent his youth working the land, helping plant and harvest corn and tobacco, or pulling fish from the river. Like so many rural families, the depression hit the Washburns hard, ushering in lean times, but Vance always spoke fondly of this period in his life.

Vance had what was commonly called at the time “moxie” and a beautiful singing voice. With his friends, Vance would frequently set up on Springfield street corners and perform country hits of the day, always drawing a crowd. Some people remarked that Vance looked a lot like Roy Rogers and if you didn’t notice for yourself, he would be sure to let you know. His love of playing guitar and singing continued for the rest of his life.

In 1948, Vance took a job as a milkman for Plainview Dairy. He delivered milk across Louisville for the next twenty-two years. The work enabled him to meet new people, something he loved to do, and gain brief glimpses into their lives. Vance was also a prolific storyteller, and the stories he collected from his delivery routes have been told and retold for decades. During this time, he married Jean Votaw, with whom he had two sons, Dennis and Gary, and then Aileen Stevens, with whom he had four children: Judy, K.C., Roger, and Tracy.

After his instrumental role in unionizing Plainview Dairy, in 1970 Teamsters Local 783 offered him a position as a business agent. There Vance met his third wife, Carolin, with whom he had one child, Michael. During his career with the Teamsters he organized several prominent local businesses before retiring as president of Local 783 in 1983. Then he got to work. “Some people like sports or like to hunt, but I like to work,” he once said. The year of his retirement he and Carolin bought a small farm outside of Clarkson, Kentucky, and and he set about doing what made him happiest: being useful and working the land. Vance continued working on the farm well into his 90th year.

Through these and all other chapters of his long, bountiful, rewarding life, Vance was anchored by his sweet temperament, his fierce devotion to family and friends, and his expansive compassion.

Vance Washburn passed away in Louisville on September 22nd, eight days after his 96th birthday. He is survived by his wife, Carolin Washburn, and all seven of his children: Dennis Washburn (Pamela), Gary Washburn (Rita), Judy Worner, K.C. Washburn (Bobbie), Roger Washburn (Pam), Tracy Washburn (Roberta), and Michael Washburn (Amy). He is also survived by his youngest sister Nora Gertrude Hudson and by seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Lastly, he is survived by Susie, Patches, and Rosie, a fat dog and two fat sister-cats.

Visitation will be Arch L. Heady at Resthaven (4400 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40218) starting at 3:30pm on Wednesday, September 25, 2019, with a celebration of life beginning at 6:00pm and a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, consider a contribution to Hosparus of Louisville.