Virginia Lee Winter

WINTER, TROUPE, WATERMAN, HAMILTON, LECHTENBERG, BALLARD, GAEDE, LINDNER, CUE, LOCKARD

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 7/21/2010 at 14:09:22

Virginia Lee Winter, 76, of Shell Rock, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at the Shell Rock Healthcare Center, Shell Rock.

Virginia was born on October 25, 1932, the daughter of George L. and Thelma (Troupe) Waterman in Oelwein, Iowa.

She graduated from Oelwein High School in May of 1950. On May 27, 1950, she was united in marriage to Theodore J. "Ted" Winter at the First Baptist Church in Oelwein. Virginia devoted much of her life to raising her children and later worked as an upholstery instructor for Hawkeye Community College for 25 years, ran her own upholstery business, and worked as the store Manager of Shell Rock Hardware for 20 years, retiring in December of 2004.

She was an active volunteer, teaching Red Cross Swimming lessons, Cub Scout Den Mother, 4-H leader, and Sunday school teacher in Cedar Falls, an active member of the Shell Rock United Methodist Church, where she helped manage the food pantry.

Her family was the treasure of her life and she enjoyed any family gathering, most especially the Christmas Eve celebrations at her home, gatherings with her brothers and sisters, trips to El Paso, family vacations, time spent with Darlene, Water Aerobics at the Waverly Health Care Center, making quilts, most especially the special quilts she made for her grandchildren and the baby quilts she made for her great grandchildren.

Virginia was the wind beneath the wings of four generations of family, and was truly our rock and our anchor, as well as being our mother, grandmother, Grandma Great, and our best friend. She is admired, honored, and loved, and will be greatly missed by her family.

Survivors are her children, John (Candy) Winter and Roland (Delia) Winter both of Shell Rock, Carol (Mike Hamilton of Oelwein, and Roger (Julie) Winter of El Paso, Texas; nine beloved grandchildren, Brandon Winter, Fredericksburg, Amanda (T.J.) Lechtenberg, Des Moines, Aaron (Melissa) Winter, Shell Rock, Darcy (Matt) Ballard, Blockton, D.J. (Patti) Gaede, Waverly, Jordan (Jeannie) Hamilton, Oelwein, Shani Hamilton, Oelwein, Melissa Hamilton, Iowa City, and Faith Winter, El Paso, Texas; 16 great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Violet (Merlwin) Lindner, Nashua and Eileen Cue, Oelwein; brother, Lyle (Karen) Waterman, Nashua; 2 sisters-in-law, Alice Waterman, Waterloo and Lavearl Waterman, Sumner, many nieces and nephews, a very special Aunt, Mary (Peg) Lockard, Chandler, Arizona and a very special friend, Darlene Smith, Shell Rock.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Theodore on January 31, 1981; son, Ralph Winter on November 12, 1974; and by 2 brothers, Leonard and Orville.

The family wishes to express special thanks to our Mom's wonderful family, Violet and Merlwin Lindner, Alice Waterman, Eileen Cue, Lyle and Karen Waterman, our cousins, Mike Lindner and Dave Waterman, and Mom's best friend, Darlene Smith who were there for us throughout this difficult journey, all the compassionate Doctors, Nurses and aides who cared for her, for the special staff members of the Shell Rock Health Care and Cedar Valley Hospice of Bremer and Butler County, and her very special granddaughter, Melissa (the Warden) Hamilton who shared a special friendship with her Grandma and devoted 2 summers to caring for her, which added a lot of joy and quality to her last two years of life.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 12, 2009 at 11:00 am at the Shell Rock United Methodist Church, Shell Rock.

Cremation will follow the service and Burial of Cremains will be held on October 24, 2009 at 11:00 am in Riverside Cemetery, Shell Rock.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home, Shell Rock.

There will be a 6:30 pm Scripture and Prayer service on Sunday at the funeral home.

Visitation will also be held one hour before services on Monday at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the family.