Cary Langhorne Washburn passed away on Friday the 4th of March, 2011, at his home, Holly Hill, in Middleburg Virginia, at the age of 92. He died of natural causes. A remarkable American, Lang Washburn's long life was full of adventure and accomplishment and reflects the grand adventure of America in the 20th century.

In many respects Lang embodied the very best of American values and spirit.

He was a descendant of the Washburn brothers of his grandfather's generation, who helped found the Republican Party and played leading roles in the abolitionist movement and the Civil War. He inherited a love for the Republican Party and devoted his middle years to helping elect moderate Republicans to federal office. His father, Stanley Washburn, was a war correspondent and world traveler.

Lang was born in Livermore Falls, Maine, on July 14, 1918. Along with his brother and best friend Stanley Jr., Lang grew up in Lakehurst, New Jersey, in the shadow of the great dirigibles of the 1930s. Lang and Stanley's lifetime of adventures together started with the design and construction of their own blimp, which they flew at great peril on flights up and down the Eastern Coast.

Lang received his formal education at the Hotchkiss School and the University of Virginia.

With the outbreak of World War II, Lang saw action in the South Pacific from 1942-46, piloting massive PBY and PBM military seaplanes, hunting submarines, rescuing sailors and downed airmen, and almost losing his own life in a kamikaze attack.

Lang returned to the Bay Area after the war, where he married Peggy Harrison in 1944.

His diverse career began as a commercial real estate broker in San Francisco from 1946-47. From 1947-55, he served as a test pilot and Operations Manager for the Hiller Helicopter Corporation, where he flew the first pilotless helicopter in history and survived several crashes.

His love of flight surfaced again in the Eisenhower presidential campaigns of 1952 and 1956, when he took a leave of absence from his job to manage the unique Bandwagon campaign from coast to coast, which featured dozens of "We like Ike" blimps.

He was Vice Chairman of the National Citizens for Eisenhower Committee in 1952, and in 1956 was the Director of the Campaign for National Citizens for Eisenhower.

Lang worked in the private sector until 1965 when he moved to Washington DC, where he met and married Judith Davies to whom he was married for 44 years.

For the last 33 years, Lang and Judy lived at their rural home, Holly Hill, in Middleburg Virginia.

Lang was Director of Finance for the Republican National Committee from 1965-70, when he was appointed by President Nixon as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism; he went on to serve in this position during the Ford Administration. He left national service in 1975 to serve as Vice President for Walt Disney Productions from 1975-83, where his duties included the recruitment of foreign governments to participate in the EPCOT World Showcase facility at Walt Disney World.

After retiring from Disney, Lang devoted his time to development consulting for nonprofit institutions, corporate clients, and community projects in the Middleburg area. His consummate fund-raising skills benefited dozens of worthy causes, boosting support for affordable housing, education, the arts, and community improvements. He served on many boards including The Hill School, The Windy Hill Foundation and the Wolf Trap.

He loved Middleburg and was instrumental in finding a home for the local library, starting the Farmer's Market and, during Middleburg's bicentennial year, he raised the needed funds at the town's request to brick sidewalks and plant trees on Main Street. He was also a co-founder of The Middleburg Forum. Last year, he and Judy received the Loudoun Laurels Medal in honor of their exemplary stewardship of Loudoun County.

His adages "Success is assured unless energy fails," and "There's always a procedure," were continually illustrated by the enthusiasm, energy, and creativity he brought to the endeavors and adventures he took on.

Throughout his life, Lang was a great outdoorsman, sailor and aviator. He spent his summers in Edgartown, and was a devoted sailor, fisherman, and pilot. A masterful story-teller and a terrific husband, father, and grandfather, Lang lived a life full of adventure and great humor.

He is survived by his wife Judith Davies, by his seven children, Alice Taylor, San Mateo, CA, Cary Washburn, Cuernavaca, Mexico, Tayloe Washburn, Seattle, WA, Alexandra Washburn-Weidlein, Oxford, MS, Pammy Brooks, Greenwich, CT, Serena Washburn, Barcelona, Spain, and Natalie Washburn, Washington D.C., and by fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

At the family's request, memorial contributions may be made to Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, 290 Norlands Road, Livermore, ME 04253 or The Windy Hill Foundation, PO Box 1593, Middleburg VA 20118.