William R. Fairbanks
April 21, 1930 ~ July 15, 2020
William Richmond Fairbanks of Vienna, VA passed away peacefully July 15, 2020 at the Goodwin House in Arlington, VA. He was 90 years old.
He was born April 21, 1930 in Ogdensburg, NY to Worth R. and Eva (Welch) Fairbanks and was an only child. He is a direct descendent of Jonathan Fairbanks, who with his wife Grace, came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1633. The timber frame house he built still stands and is now a museum open to the public in Dedham, MA. He graduated from Hermon High School. He then attended The Manlius School, a military academy in Manlius, NY. He graduated from Clarkson University with a degree in mechanical engineering. In 1952 he married Joan Regan of Potsdam, NY. He served 2 terms in the Armed Forces as a first lieutenant - in Artillery, 186th Armed FA BN from which he was honorably discharged in 1958 and the ORDC, USAR from which he was honorably discharged in 1962. He worked for the Department of Transportation, for 30 years, first at the St. Lawrence Seaway in Massena, NY and then the Federal Aviation Administration at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. He later headed the maintenance and engineering division during the initial stage of the Dulles airport expansion. Upon retirement he worked several years as a residential contractor.
He is survived by his wife Joan of Vienna, VA and five children: Sheri Hoffman (Ed) of Harrisburg, PA; Susan Peterson (Wayne) of Broad Run, VA; Michael Fairbanks (Donna) of Fairfax Station, VA; Kelly Guggolz of Ashburn, VA; and Patty Mulloy (Jeff) of Charlotte, NC.; twelve grandchildren and two great grand-children.
A private funeral mass will be held at St. Marks’s Catholic Church, Vienna, VA.
The family suggests those wishing to make memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Fairbanks consider the Little Sisters of the Poor:
www.littlesistersofthepoorcincinnati.org
Little Sisters of the Poor
476 Riddle Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
He was born April 21, 1930 in Ogdensburg, NY to Worth R. and Eva (Welch) Fairbanks and was an only child. He is a direct descendent of Jonathan Fairbanks, who with his wife Grace, came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1633. The timber frame house he built still stands and is now a museum open to the public in Dedham, MA. He graduated from Hermon High School. He then attended The Manlius School, a military academy in Manlius, NY. He graduated from Clarkson University with a degree in mechanical engineering. In 1952 he married Joan Regan of Potsdam, NY. He served 2 terms in the Armed Forces as a first lieutenant - in Artillery, 186th Armed FA BN from which he was honorably discharged in 1958 and the ORDC, USAR from which he was honorably discharged in 1962. He worked for the Department of Transportation, for 30 years, first at the St. Lawrence Seaway in Massena, NY and then the Federal Aviation Administration at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. He later headed the maintenance and engineering division during the initial stage of the Dulles airport expansion. Upon retirement he worked several years as a residential contractor.
He is survived by his wife Joan of Vienna, VA and five children: Sheri Hoffman (Ed) of Harrisburg, PA; Susan Peterson (Wayne) of Broad Run, VA; Michael Fairbanks (Donna) of Fairfax Station, VA; Kelly Guggolz of Ashburn, VA; and Patty Mulloy (Jeff) of Charlotte, NC.; twelve grandchildren and two great grand-children.
A private funeral mass will be held at St. Marks’s Catholic Church, Vienna, VA.
The family suggests those wishing to make memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Fairbanks consider the Little Sisters of the Poor:
www.littlesistersofthepoorcincinnati.org
Little Sisters of the Poor
476 Riddle Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
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Condolences, prayers and love to Joan and family. I know Bill will be missed by all.
Dear Fairbanks family, This is Cherie Cox Gift. I lived in Vienna for many years & also lived in Lake Vale. I always loved your family & had a fondness for Bill. I was shocked to find out about his passing, and now Mike. I’m so very sorry for all of you. You are in my prayers. Love, Cherie
hi Cherie – thank you for the condolences. While dad was 90, Mike should have had many more years of happiness with his family and friends. We are all devastated. I hope you are well – hard to believe so many years have passed. Susie Fairbanks Peterson