William Lawrence Washburn

William Lawrence Washburn Bill~Wild Bill~Snapping Turtle April 26, 1940 – May 2, 2026 Passed away peacefully at his son’s home in Greensboro, MD surrounded by the people who truly loved him and his kitty fur baby, Annie Mae. Born April 26, 1940, to the late Jennie “Mickie” Ashley and Oakley Chaffin Washburn. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He retired from Maryland corrections as a Correction Officer after working at Jessup Prison in Jessup, MD and ECI in Princess Anne, MD. In his younger years, Bill was a volunteer at the Grasonville Volunteer Fire Department. He would be seen running down Main St in shorts and barefoot to respond to calls. He took pride in his Native American Cherokee Heritage. Bill and his late wife Gloria “Jean” (White Dove) Washburn would attend Pow-Wow’s and other Native American functions. Bill enjoyed racing drag bikes at the US 13 Dragway in Delmar, DE. You could find him most weekends there. He owned Eracer’s Corner in Delmar MD and Elba AL. He could be seen cruising around Elba in his blue GEO Tracker, top down and blaring his gospel music. Bill loved sitting on his front porch watching the cars go by, smoking his Pall Mall cigarettes and listening to his country gospel music. On Sunday’s, you could find him sitting in his “throne room” watching NASCAR races. When they would get exciting, he would call his son, and they would talk during the rest of the race. Some of his favorite drivers included Davey Allison, Bill Elliott, Alan Kulwicki, Dale Earnhardt Sr and Mark Martin. Bill is survived by his son, Tracy Washburn Sr (Jennifer), Grandsons Tracy “Trey” Washburn Jr (Madalyn & 3 Great-grandchildren, Bently Detroit, Bella Louise & Kylee Ann); Aaron Coleman (Tricia & 2 Great-grandchildren). Granddaughter, Taylor Pate (Justin & great granddaughter Allison). Siblings Carol Wolfe (Chris), Dough Ashley (Retha) and Barbara Goldenberg (Adam). Two nieces and four nephews. Dear friends, Dewey Ellis Brantley AL, Kathy Allen Greensboro MD, Bruce Quinn Grasonville MD, Stacy Bernstein Stevensville MD, Terri Fondren & Jack Bernstein St. Albans WV and a host of others. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by two brothers; Oakley “Buddy” Washburn and James Washburn, a nephew, Chaffin Washburn, his stepfather Reggie Ashley, daughter Mickie Lynn Washburn and grandson Kyle Lee Washburn. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to one of the following charities in Bill’s name: *Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) *St. Jude Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org) *Caroline County Humane Society (www.carolinehumane.org) *American Heart Association (www.heart.org) *Cherokee Nation Foundation (www.cherokeenationfoundation.org) (Please use his name as well as Snapping Turtle, his Native American name.) A celebration of life will be scheduled for a later date by the family.

William Lawrence Washburn

April 26, 1940 - May 2, 2026