Phillip Terrill Washburn

Phil was my father. We had a complicated relationship, he was a complicated man. When I was little, he was my playmate and protector. I missed him so much when he moved away that I don't think I ever truly recovered. Our relationship was never quite the same through the years, but he was always still a protector. I knew he'd always have my back in an emergency. Some of my fondest memories are of my dad the storyteller. Most people who knew him would know he loved to "hold court" and tell...

Phil was my father. It was a complicated relationship, as he was a complicated man. When I was a little girl, he was my playmate and protector. I missed him so much when he moved away that I don't think I ever quite got over it. We never had quite the same relationship again, over the years, but he was always a protector and I knew he'd have my back in an emergency. Some of my fondest memories of him were as a storyteller. Most people who know him know he loves to "hold court" and...

When I last saw Phil, Susan was still with us. She was my first cousin. We were in Texas visiting another cousin, and went to see Phil and Susan. Phil was having a good day and was in rare form. We ate at one of their favorite restaurants, and laughed with Phil all through lunch. It was a great visit.

He was a U.S. Marine stationed at the 8th and I Barracks in Washington, D.C. His company participated in funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and in weekly Friday night parades at the barracks throughout the summer. He was introduced to me as P. T. Washburn and that name stuck. He will forever be P.T. to me. I am his first wife. We were married for seven years and had one daughter, Jennifer (Heleniak). We divorced in 1977, kept in touch sporadically. A favorite memory of mine is at...