Obituaries

Colon Washburn

Photo of Colon Washburn
Colon Washburn, age 72, of Rogers, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at Mercy Medical Hospital in Rogers. He was born June 13, 1945 in Vallejo, California, the son of the late Dr. William Washburn and Mary Jean "Honey" Washburn. He graduated from Versailles High School excelling in all sports and from Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, Missouri with a degree in Marketing. He also attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri for two years and was honored in 1996 with the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. He was a lifelong patriot and conservative. He voluntarily joined the Air Force during the height of the Vietnam War. He was stationed at the Air Force bases in Okinawa, Japan and Whitman, Missouri where he served as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist. He married Dana Taylor on March 8, 1997. They have been married for 21 years. Together, they developed Beau Terre and Signed, Sealed, & Delivered. More importantly, Dana and Colon shared an intimacy with Jesus Christ that blessed their marriage and helped them through several trials. Although a very successful and respected businessman, Colon was most proud of his family, his marriage to Dana, and the legacy he was leaving behind with his numerous community service projects. He enjoyed playing golf (having made three holes-in-one), reading spiritual books, writing letters and notes to others, politics, and leadership and mentoring others. He and Dana were dedicated fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Arkansas Razorbacks. They were both proud grandparents who loved spending as much time as they could hanging out with and playing with their three grandchildren. Colon was very active with community service. He was the cofounder of Returning Home and the Man Church of Northwest Arkansas. He also participated in and acted as a team leader in both Celebrate Recovery and Influencers of Northwest Arkansas. As a team leader and supporter of the NWA Influencers, he was proud to have helped build a foundation and positive culture where the D.N.A could be "passed on." He also continually worked to mentor men in a variety of arenas including prisoners at the Springdale Work Release Center in Springdale, Arkansas. He was a proud follower of Jesus Christ and proud to start "living in the present" since 2007. His spiritual journey was heightened when he and Dana joined Fellowship Bible Church where he served as an advisor for the development of the Ministry for Men. He placed a strong emphasis on being a servant leader and never wanted to receive any credit for things he did for others. He was even in the process of writing a book on leadership with an emphasis on servant leadership. His life quote was, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish", and we all know Colon finished very strong. He most recently served as the President and CEO of ThinkGeek of Fairfax, Va. He served as a Retail Consultant for Reliance Retail of Mumbai, India, Walgreens of Deerfield, Ill., Lewis and Clark of Rogers, Ark., and Charean Popkand Group of Bangkok, Thailand. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Fresh America Corp. of Dallas, Texas, and cofounder of Bentonville Associates Ventures of Bentonville, Ark. He worked with Walmart for 22 years, starting as a Sales Clerk in Clinton Missouri, Assistant Manager in Joplin, Missouri and Miami, Oklahoma. He moved to Bentonville and worked in the corporate offices as Buyer Domestics, Men's Wear, Girls Wear, Vice President, DMM Infants and Toddlers. As Sr. Vice President, GMM apparel he worked closely with Sam Walton and spearheaded the Buy America program. He was the Sr. Vice President of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and Executive Vice President, Sam's Club. He also led merchandising efforts to open Walmart's first international store in Mexico City. Colon is survived by his wife, Dana Washburn; his three children, Alyson Jacobs and husband, Todd of Bentonville, Krissi Long and husband, Caleb of Siloam Springs, and Maegan Washburn of Rogers; brothers, William Washburn of Versailles, Missouri, John "Tom" Washburn and wife, Sherry of Springfield, Missouri, and sister Jean Lee of Springfield Missouri; grandchildren Aiden Long, Ava Jacobs, and Jackson Jacobs, along with many other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. William Washburn and mother, Mary Jean "Honey" Washburn of Versailles, Missouri. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m., Friday, May 11, 2018 in the Training Center Chapel at Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 12, 2018 in the Training Center Chapel at Fellowship Bible Church. In lieu of flowers and to remember Colon and his community service, please make donations to the Return Home Center 5204 W Village Parkway Ste 11 PMB #155 Rogers, Ark. 72758. www.returninghomenwa.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers. Word of comfort or memories may be shared at Stockdale-Moodyfs.com.

Published May 11, 2018

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