Doris F. Washburn

Doris F. Washburn, 86, died on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 in the skilled nursing section of Grace Ridge following a lengthy illness. Doris was born January 14, 1922 in Oakwood, Missouri, the daughter of the late Anna and Rev. Ben Williamson. Since her father was a pastor, the family moved to Osceola, Iowa, then Grand River, Iowa where her brother, Philip, was born; and finally Spring Lake, Michigan. Following the death of her father, the family moved to Hancock, Michigan where Doris graduated from Hancock High School. Following the death of her mother, she moved to Evansville, Indiana where she attended business school until the war started. Doris joined her brother in Gary, Indiana and worked as a secretary at the American Bridge Company in Gary. When the war ended, Doris moved to Springfield, Massachusetts and joined her brother again as he studied at Springfield College. It was here that she met her husband, Alton, and they married in 1949.In addition to raising a family, Doris was very active in the local Baptist church in Springfield. She and her husband along with two other couples, were instrumental in establishing a new Baptist church in Enfield, Connecticut. Doris was a great homemaker and enjoyed entertaining missionaries who frequently came to the home. As a supplement to the family income in supplying the financial needs of the children’s education, she worked as a secretary for the Traveler’s Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut.Doris is survived by her husband of 59 years, Alton; her daughter, Susan, a missionary in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada; a son, Timothy, who lives in Aiken, SC; and a son, Mark, who lives in Fletcher, NC; and eight grandchildren, two from Canada, three from Aiken, and three from Fletcher.Doris’s great passion was to honor her Savior in her life. Her well-marked Bible and copious notes testified to her desire to know God better, and it was these examples that demonstrated to others how a Christian should live. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". Matthew 4:4Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 21, 2008 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Service with Rev. David Mills officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday from 2:00 until 3:00 pm at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Burkemont Baptist Church Building Fund, 4668 Burkemont Rd., Morganton, NC 28655 or to the Grace Ridge Friendship Fund, 500 Lenoir Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.