Citadel Alumni Obituaries

Judge James Richard Vosburgh, age 80, of 143 Honey Pod Farm Road,
Washington, NC died on Saturday morning January 12, 2013 at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at
First United Methodist Church of Washington. The Rev. Danny G. Allen will
officiate. Burial will follow at Pamlico Memorial Gardens. Serving as
pallbearers will be Jerry W. Alligood, Danny Asby, Seth Edwards, Hackney
High, Judge James Llewellen, Dr. William P. McKay, III and Judge Wayland
Sermons. Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Cutler, Carter A. Edwards, Dr.
John Feagan, Jeptha V. Greer, Bryan Kempton, Roland Larson, John Morgan, Dr.
Mike Moore, Kenneth Roebuck, Raymond Rich, Fritz Tanner, Jr., Davis Terry,
Harold Terry, Roland Terry, Timmy Terry, Dr. James C. Walker and Tim Warner.
Judge Vosburgh was born in Durham, NC on October 12, 1932, the son of the
late Dr. Warren Chase Vosburgh and the late Mary Marguerite Jones Vosburgh.
Judge Vosburgh was educated in the public schools of Durham, NC. He
graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, SC in 1954 with a degree in
business and commerce. After college, he served as 1LT in the 82nd
AirborneDivision of the United States Army from October 26, 1954 ­ February
25, 1958. After serving in the army, he entered Law School at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received a Juris Doctorate Law Degree
and was admitted to the bar in 1964. Judge Vosburgh is survived by his
wife, the former Mary Louise Howell of Hatch Bend, Florida. They were
married on June 21, 1958. Also surviving are their two sons, Donald Chase
Vosburgh and wife Kristin of Denver, CO; Richard Warren Vosburgh and wife
Alicia, two grandsons, Brant William Vosburgh and Sawyer Louis Vosburgh of
Washington, NC. He had two sisters who also survive, Elizabeth Vosburgh
Gordon of Richmond, VA and Rachel Vosburgh Hettick of Oceanside, CA. Judge
Vosburgh began his practice of law in Greenville, NC. In August, 1964, he
moved to Washington, NC where he practiced law with partner, John A.
Wilkerson until 1985. During that period of time, he became very involved in
politics and worked with various people to build the RepublicanParty in
Beaufort County. He was a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the
Beaufort County Bar and the Second Judicial Bar. Judge Vosburgh was
appointed by Gov. Jim Martin in 1985, for a project to recognize the legal
department in the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina. After
successful completion of this project, Mr. Vosburgh returned to Washington
and opened a new private law practice where he worked until his appointment
to the Office of Special Superior Court Judge by Governor Jim Hunt in 1997.
He served in that capacity until December 31, 2002. Judge Vosburgh served as
a member of the State Board of Elections from 1972 to 1976 and on the
Beaufort County Board of Elections from 1984 to 2012. He was also on the
Property Tax Commission from 1980 to 1996. Since March of 2003, Vosburgh has
worked with the North Carolina Capital Defender’s Office representing
clients charged with homicide in northeastern North Carolina until his
retirement in July 2010. Judge Vosburgh was an active member of First United
Methodist Church. He was also involved in community youth programs. He
coached Youth League Baseball and was Commissioner of the Junior Babe
RuthLeague. He also coached in the Optimist Soccer League. He was a Scout
Master of Troop 99 at the First United Methodist Church in Washington and he
was an Eagle Scout. He was a member of the American Legion Post 15.
Memorials may be made to the New Horizons Building Fund, First United
Methodist Church, 304 West 2ndStreet, Washington, NC 27889; The Marion L.
Shepard Cancer Center, 1209 Brown Street, Washington, NC 27889 or the
memorial of choice. On-line condolences may be offered the family by
visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington
is honored to serve the Vosburgh family.

Tags: 1954