Richard Washer

Richard Washer

Richard Bennington Washer was born in Boston, MA, on May 21, 1930, as the son of Thomas J. Washer and Agnes Moorecroft Bennington Washer.

He was raised in Rockville Centre, Long Island, NY, and graduated from Southside High School where he played trumpet in the marching band and played on the soccer team which won the county championship in his senior year.

He graduated with honors from Lehigh University as an Industrial Engineer and joined General Electric's three-year manufacturing management program with eventual involvement in many GE locations throughout the US, as well as France and Brazil. Early in his career, he was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army, where he was posted to the Transportation Research and Engineering Command.

While attending a family wedding in Toronto, Ontario he asked a cousin to introduce him to a guest he noticed across the room. Adrienne Smith, a Toronto school teacher became his wife for nearly 67 years. Together and with their children they traveled to over 58 countries, settling in Hickory after retiring from GE. He later joined Drexel Heritage Furnishings in Morganton, NC.

Richard had a strong body and an active mind. He enjoyed skiing, sailing, hiking and photography. He was an award-winning member of the Catawba Valley Camera Club and past president of the Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed the Tuesday night men's discussion group at First Presbyterian Church and served for several years on the property committee. He and Adrienne were also members of the Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock where they loved to go for summer services.

He is survived by his wife, Adrienne Washer; son, Doug (Pam); son, Bruce; and daughter, Carolyn (Bob) Sinclair; his grandchildren, Ian Washer, Carter Sinclair and Sloane Sinclair; and was preceded in death by his parents; his infant son, Scott; his brother, Robert Washer; and his daughter-in-law, Cathie Rozjman Washer.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Kingston Residence of Hickory, Carolina Caring and Geraldine's Care for their loving support of Richard and the family.

Memorial gifts may be given to The Good Samaritan Fund of First Presbyterian Church of Hickory, Habitat for Humanity of Catawba Valley, Carolina Caring, and Hickory Soup Kitchen.

Services will be held Monday, October 6th, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Hickory followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall.

Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory of Hickory is serving the family of Richard Bennington Washer.