Funeral services for William Raspberry, the retired Washington Post columnist who died of prostate cancer Tuesday at age 76, have been scheduled for Thursday, July 26, at 10 a.m. at the Washington National Cathedral, according to journalist Walt Swanston, a family friend.
A reception is to follow from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Washington Post building, 1150 15th St. NW in Washington.
"The Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (Washington National Cathedral) has been the location of funeral and memorial services for nearly all the 21 presidents of the United States since Congress incorporated the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation in 1893," according to the cathedral's website.
"There have been three State Funerals (Eisenhower, Reagan, Ford), one official burial service (Wilson), and seven Memorial Services for presidents of the United States."
A service for Katharine Graham, legendary publisher of the Washington Post, was held there in 2001 [video], as were services for longtime Post cartoonist Herb Block, also in 2001, and former Post ombudsman Deborah Howell in 2010.
The Duke University flag was to be flown at half-staff through July 19 in Raspberry's honor, Keith Lawrence, a Duke University spokesman, told Journal-isms on Wednesday. After his retirement from the Post, Raspberry became Knight Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy Studies at Duke, where he spent more than 13 years.
Additional tributes have come from Michel Martin of NPR's "Tell Me More" and Rem Rieder of American Journalism Review, among others. Rieder linked to a 1994 profile of Raspberry. [Updated July 19.]
E.J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post: William Raspberry, a 'role model' and more
Editorial, Washington Post: William Raspberry, a columnist who listened respectfully to other views
James Hill, Washington Post News Media Services: William Raspberry 1935 - 2012
Eugene Robinson, Washington Post: Bill Raspberry, a pioneer who aided generations