Carolyn " Lynn " Priest Washburn, of Greenville, formerly of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2014 in Carson City, Michigan with her family at her side. She was born July 17, 1928 in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Henry B. and Verna E. Priest, both natives of Irasburg, Vermont. She grew up in Verona, NJ where her father taught English at Montclair (NJ) High School for many years.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, John M. Washburn III, whom she married on September 23, 1950; their children, Christine Kohn (Thomas) of Greenville, MI, David Washburn (Gail) of Ringwood, NJ and Carol Keberly (Paul) of Plymouth, MI; grandchildren, Aaron Kohn (Katie), David Kohn (Kristen), Laura Kohn (fiancé Alexander), Jacqueline Washburn, Laura Sama (Andrea), Brian Washburn, Carolyn Rose (Jason), Jennifer Rasak, and Michael Rasak (Taylor); great-grandchildren, Madison and Payton Rose, Alyssa, Emily, and Daniel Kohn and Noah and Charlotte Kohn; sister, Virginia Weston (Ralph); sisters-in-law, Jane Parker and Ann Samuels.
Carolyn graduated from Tufts University (Medford, MA) in 1950 where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history. Later, after she and John had raised their family, she earned a Master Degree in special education from Eastern Michigan University and taught special education in the Farmington Public Schools for 17 years. She had a great love for the children that she taught.
She especially enjoyed spending summers on beautiful Parker Pond, West Glover, VT at the summer camp that her parents built in 1937. These summers held many special memories for her, and she has passed her love of Parker Pond on to her children and grandchildren.
A graveside memorial service will take place this summer with interment in the Irasburg, Vermont Cemetery.
For those desiring to do so, the family suggests memorial considerations be made to either the John M. Washburn III and Carolyn P. Washburn Endowed Scholarship Fund at Alma College, 614 West Superior Street, Alma, MI 48801 or to The Old Stone House Museum, c/o Orleans County Historical Society, 109 Old Stone House Road, Brownington, VT 05860.
