Robert Neil Washburn

Robert Neil Washburn, 68, of Stuttgart passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, at his home.

Neil was born June 24, 1958, in Brinkley, AR to Robert Neil and Elizabeth Brown Washburn. He retired from Riceland as Director of Environmental Compliance. His hobbies were watching Comet and the Sci-Fi channel, making and selling knives to benefit Rescue Road, spending time on the Buffalo River, and enjoying music at all hours of the day, even in the Walmart at 9 a.m. on a Sunday. He could often be seen in his yard visiting with neighbors, and feeding the squirrels. He was convinced they had started liking his Pandora playlist just as much as him, the squirrels, not the neighbors.

Throughout his life, he was known as “Mr. Neil” to many who may not have been family, but whom he nonetheless cared for as if they were.

Aside from his parents he was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 40 years, Elsbeth Staggs Washburn; sister-in-law, Valerie Washburn, brother-in-law, Marcus Staggs, and somehow not Keith Richards.

Surviving him are his two sons, Robert (Amber) Washburn of North Little Rock and Will (Nadia) Washburn and their daughter Georgia of Stuttgart; two brothers, Donald Raymond (Barbie) Washburn and William Washburn; sisters-in-law, Kelly Dorkus Dunlap, Leah Riels and Jean Staggs; and several nieces and nephews, they have names but he probably just called them doo doo heads, lovingly.

There will be a visitation from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Turpin Funeral Home in Stuttgart, Arkansas and a graveside service at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept 28, at Turner Cemetery outside of Marvell, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers or chicken spaghetti, his family requests that memorials be made in the form of donations to Rescue Road, 17200 Chenal Parkway, Suite 300 #171, Little Rock, AR 72223.