William Thomas Washburn William Thomas Washburn was born July 2, 1935, to Ellis William Washburn and Lola Jean Rucker Washburn in Willits, Calif. He was preceded in death in 1997 by his first wife, Mary JoAn Ray Washburn, and is survived by his wife Ruth Allyson Martin Washburn and his sisters, Doreen (Frank) Villalon and Linda Carden. Tom was a devoted family man and is also survived by his children Kathleen Tolman, Robert Washburn, Julianna (David) Scheaffer, David (Lilliam) Washburn, Lydia (Jared) Smout, Nathan Washburn, Elizabeth (Scott) Claflin, Jonathan (Kim Marie) Washburn, Elaine (Scott) Hardy, Tara Washburn and Levi Washburn; by over 50 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and by Allyson’s children, Sallie Sullivan, Joshua Creel and Julia Izzolo. He served his country in the US Marine Corps and was a Korean War veteran. Tom worked at Brigham Young University with Jim Gamble, where they built the university’s first television station. Tom spent his early career at IBM in computing and then at TRW in the US aerospace program. Tom became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was about 18. Tom and JoAn moved to Snowflake in 1973 to raise their large family near relatives. He bought and ran Silver Creek Mill and later worked at Cholla Power Plant until his retirement. While in Snowflake, he worked behind the scenes for all of JoAn’s projects and his personal project, Thursday Night in the Park summer concerts. Tom also served on the Snowflake Town Council. Tom moved to Utah when he married Allyson in 1998. They moved to Provo and in 2012, they moved to St. George. Tom died at home in St. George on Dec. 2, 2020, attended to by his wife Allyson and his daughter Tara. His body will be laid to rest in Snowflake.
