A Surgeon, Veteran and Grandmother Leave Lasting Legacies
August 30, 2026 — A surgeon who treated patients regardless of their ability to pay, a veteran who expressed affection through everyday acts of service, and a grandmother who offered generations of family members steady guidance are among those remembered in the latest installment of The Washington Post’s reader-submitted obituary series.
The weekly feature, “What We Remember,” highlights the lives of people whose impact was often felt most deeply by their families, friends and communities. The latest collection focuses on four individuals whose lives were marked by compassion, service, family and generosity.
Samuel Landrum Remembered for His Care
Samuel Edward Landrum, a 91-year-old surgeon and private pilot from Fort Smith, Ark., is remembered by his daughter as a physician who never turned away someone in need.
Landrum sometimes accepted farm produce or invitations to go fishing instead of payment from patients. His approach to medicine reflected a belief that everyone deserved to be treated with dignity, regardless of their financial circumstances.
His daughter also recalled his courtesy toward everyone around him, including patients, families, nurses, orderlies and fellow doctors.
As Landrum grew older and his health declined, he moved into assisted living before receiving custodial care. Staff members who had known him during his medical career continued to treat him with compassion during his final year.
He died April 20 in Fort Smith.
Fernando Zaragoza Found Love in Service
Fernando Leonel Zaragoza, who died March 20 in Tulsa at age 87, is remembered as someone who showed affection through practical acts of kindness.
His niece described him as a man who regularly helped family members by painting walls, mowing lawns, filling cars with gas and picking up groceries.
Zaragoza, an industrial air-conditioning repairman and Air Force veteran, also maintained close connections with relatives through birthday cards, phone calls, visits and other gestures.
For those who knew him, his willingness to help became one of the clearest expressions of his love.
Dorothy Robbins Inspired Through the Years
Dorothy D. Robbins lived to 103 and spent nearly half of her life as a widow.
After losing her husband at age 56, Robbins worked as an upholstery seamstress while raising and supporting her family. Her friend remembered her as both a trusted companion and a source of encouragement.
Robbins often reminded others that they would be able to get through difficult circumstances.
She died July 3 in Westminster, Calif.
Elinor Farquhar Celebrated Family
Elinor Kenney Farquhar, a Washington volunteer and philanthropist, died Aug. 1 in the District at age 93.
Her family remembered her for the traditions she created and the strong opinions she was never afraid to share.
She hosted her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, maintained family rituals and continued to participate in family life even as she grew older.
During her final spring, Farquhar organized one last party, hiring a magician to entertain many of her great-grandchildren.
Her family said the gathering reflected the warmth and personality that had defined her relationships for decades.
Stories That Keep Their Memories Alive
The four tributes illustrate how a person's legacy can live on through ordinary acts — caring for patients, helping relatives, offering encouragement or creating family traditions.
Rather than focusing only on professional accomplishments, the reader-submitted obituaries emphasize the personal qualities that made these individuals meaningful to the people around them.
Their stories show that lasting influence is often built through repeated gestures of kindness and connection.
The Washington Post's “What We Remember” series invites readers to share stories about people they have lost, creating a continuing collection of intimate memories that might otherwise remain known only within families.
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