SUPPLY — Beecher Noah Washburn Jr., 72, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, after living an active life with Stage 4, non-curable lung cancer for 11 ½ months, filling each day with activities he felt capable of enjoying. He was a loving husband, father and papa to his grandchildren.
Beecher was born an only child, in Hartford, Conn., and he was a longtime resident of Stow, Mass., where he graduated with the first class of Nashoba Regional High School. He was a very loyal University of Maine-Orono alumni.
Beecher began his career with Sears-Roebuck in Alexandria, Va., before being called to the military during the Vietnam war. He selected the U.S. Army, became a helicopter pilot and served one tour of duty in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. His return to the states found him relocated to Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas, to serve out the remainder of his four years. When he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, he chose to return to work for that Sears store where they had given him credit for his military service toward retirement. He then retired from Sears in 2007 after 39 ¾ years of employment.
He lived with his family in Fort Worth, Texas, Woodbridge, Va., and North Potomac, Md., before retiring to the Lockwood Folly Community. During his almost 10 years of retirement, he enjoyed participating as a volunteer in these organizations: Holden Beach Turtle Patrol, The 1st Tee of Brunswick County and served on the LWF Golf Course board for two terms. Beecher also enjoyed playing golf in the LWF Men’s Golf Association, surf fishing, the Friday evening BSBSS bourbon-sipping group in LWF, doing daily crossword puzzles, quote acrostic, crypto quote and games on his tablet. He was a member of the American Legion Nocha White Post 503 in Calabash.
Beecher was preceded in death by his parents, Beecher N. Washburn and Elsie P. Washburn, and leaves to honor his memory his wife of almost 46 years, Cheryl G. Washburn; son, Douglas Beecher Washburn, and his wife, April, of Clemmons, N.C., daughter, Leigh W. Andreasen, and her husband, Eric, of North Potomac, Md.; two grandchildren, Noah Beecher and Rowan Elizabeth Washburn of Clemmons, N.C.; and mother-in-law, Betty Crawford of Shallotte, N.C.
The family wants to give their heart-felt thanks to Dr. Chris Isenhour, Novant Health Oceanside Family Medicine, Dr. William McNulty, NHRMC Cape Fear Cancer Specialists and his staff in Leland, Dr. Rex Kiteley, South Atlantic Radiation Oncology Center in Shallotte and the Angels of the Lower Cape Fear SECU Hospice House in Bolivia, N.C.
Beecher lived by the motto: “Always be humble and kind to others,” so we would like for you to consider donating to the HBTurtle Patrol, The 1st Tee Brunswick County or the Lower Cape Fear Hospice House to pay it forward in place of flowers.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at The Holden Beach Chapel with a gathering immediately following at the Lockwood Folly Poolhouse. Those belonging to a volunteer group with Beecher are encouraged to wear a logo shirt representative of that organization.
Online condolences are encouraged and may be offered at www.whitefuneralservicesupply.com.
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