Loretta Catherine Markle Washburn, age 97, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 15th, 2015 at NHC Scott in Lawrenceburg, TN.
A longtime resident of Summertown and more recently of Lawrenceburg, she is survived by one son, Robert Edgar Washburn of Pall Mall and two daughters, Mary Lee Washburn Donahue of Glassboro, N. J., and Patricia Anne Washburn Long of Huntsville, Ala.; one brother William Markle of New Britain, Conn.; six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren as well as many good friends and extended family members. Loretta was predeceased by husband Ernest. R. Washburn of Summertown and her brother John Markle.
Known as “Betty” to friends and family, Loretta was a proud first-generation American, born in St. Louis, Missouri, to immigrants John and Mary (Murphy) Markle. Her father was born in Austria-Hungary and was of German and European Jewish descent, while her mother was raised in a convent in Limerick, Ireland.
After graduating from high school in East St. Louis, Illinois in 1935 as saluatorian of her class, Loretta went to work for the Works Progress Administration in St. Louis. Shortly thereafter, she heeded the call of Pres. Franklin Roosevelt for bright, public-spirited young people to come to Washington D.C. and staff the federal agencies of the New Deal, accepting a position with the U.S. Public Health Service in 1937. It was there that she met her future husband, Summertown native Ernest Washburn. Betty and Ernest were married on November 11, 1938. The couple would also reside in New Orleans while working for the Public Health Service until Ernest accepted a medical disability retirement in 1951. At that point, they settled on the Washburn family farm outside Summertown and built their home on the Central Turnpike.
During the 1960s when her children were in school, Loretta worked as a secretary for the Lawrence County Soil Conservation Service. At the age of 58 she earned an associates degree from Columbia State Community College by attending night classes. With that degree, she became a Title I teaching assistant at Summertown Elementary School and retired in 1986 as the school librarian.
A dedicated community volunteer, Loretta helped spearhead the fundraising drive to construct the Lawrenceburg branch of Columbia State. She served on the Board of Trustees and president of the board of the Lawrence County Public Library for many years, coordinating efforts to raise funds for the new library building. A breast cancer survivor, Loretta volunteered for the American Cancer Society’s Reach for Recovery program and counseled local breast cancer patients. She served as long-time member and president of the Lawrenceburg Pilot Club and was State Representative for the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D). For several years, she delivered Meals on Wheels to senior citizens served by the Summertown meal site, although she was well into her senior years herself at the time.
Loretta also served as a member of the Voluntary Support Committee for the Tennessee Department of Human Services, was an active member and secretary of the Summertown Community Club, and long-time member and president of the Henryville Family and Community Education (FCE) club. More recently she was a member of the Highland Park FCE club. For many years, she chaired the board of directors of the Summertown Cemetery Association, overseeing a cemetery where five generations of the Washburn family are buried. In recent years, Loretta was the Red Cross volunteer coordinator for Summertown bloodmobile drives, a member of the Lawrence County Senior Center board of directors, and a member of the board of directors of the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter. She was an active parishioner at Lawrenceburg’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church for over 60 years where she served as a lector and eucharistic minister until advancing aged forced her to decline further service. In 1996, Loretta was honored by the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year for her longtime commitment to her community.
Arrangements are being handled by Neal Funeral Home, 231 N. Military Avenue, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Visitation for Loretta Washburn will be held on Tuesday, November 17th from 5 pm to 8 pm at Neal Funeral Home with prayer service at 7:00 pm. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 18th at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 222 Berger St, Lawrenceburg, with Father Joseph Mundakal officiating. Interment to follow in Summertown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Summertown Cemetery Association, Inc. (P.O. Box 242, Summertown, TN 38483) or to Sacred Heart Catholic School (220 Berger St, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464)
