Edward E. Washburn Jr.

Edward E. Washburn Jr., son of Edward Eugene “Pappy” Washburn and Gene Anne Washburn, passed away at Legacy Meridian Hospital on Monday, December 12th 2011. He is survived by his brother Carl Washburn of Chicago, IL, his wife Harriet and their daughter Ella; his brother Michael Washburn of Priest River, ID, his wife Bonnie and their daughter Kecia and son Jason; his two sons with Carol Washburn - Jon Washburn and his wife Ann of Portland OR, and Ryan Washburn and his wife Robyn of Tigard OR, and their children Hadley and Alison.

Edward joined the United States Air Force following High School in 1956. While in the Air Force he worked on the historic UNIVAC computer system, as well as the SAGE early warning system at the now-decommissioned Camp Hero AFB in Montauk, NY. The radar antenna, the last of its kind in the world, is still standing in what is now a State Park.

“Big Ed” spent the rest of his life working as a successful engineer in the timber industry and was a proud member of the Lumber Pioneers, among other organizations. He lived in Oregon, California, Montana and Idaho and traveled throughout the Western United States, Canada and Central America throughout his career. He once built a small working timber mill in Costa Rica, which was to be used for a movie that was never filmed (while in Los Angeles to collect his paycheck, he got to meet Doris Day.) He was a trumpet and saxophone player and a huge jazz fan, and he once met Louis Armstrong while at an after-hours club in NYC. He was an amateur pilot, an amateur cabinetmaker, and an auto mechanic (who just missed a shot at working in a pit crew at the Indy 500,) among other exploits. But most of all he was a loving father and grandfather who left behind many friends, and left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

Edward’s ashes will be interred at Willamette Memorial Cemetery in Portland, Oregon on Monday, December 19th 2011 at 10.30am. Full military honors will accompany the service, which will be officiated by Chaplain Michael Hilty. A reception will be held afterwards at the home of Ryan and Robyn Washburn.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request that donations instead be made to the American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.