Judge James Richard Vosburgh | Eastern North Carolina Now

    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 AM 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 Airborne Division 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 Republican Party 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 Ruth League. 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 2nd Street, Washington, NC 27889; The Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, 1209 Brown Street, Washington, NC 27889 or the memorial of choice.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Vosburgh family.