Milford Winchester

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Milford "Windy" Winchester, 102, of Advance passed away Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, at Advance Nursing Home.

He was born July 11, 1912, at Dongola, Missouri, son of Peter and Mary Alice Revelle Winchester.

Windy retired as a union carpenter. He was a 1931 graduate of Advance High School, where he held a state pole vaulting record.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the European Theater and Battle of the Bulge.

He had also worked as a firefighter for the city of Cape Girardeau. He was an active bowler at Jackson Lanes from 1979 until 2013, and was a member of the Senior Bowling Hall of Fame. He was also a member of Whitewater Masonic Lodge 417. His hobbies were playing guitar and harmonica. He was an avid fisherman and loved square dancing.

Windy and Tina Cunningham were married Feb. 10, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas. From this union three children were born: David, Carolyn and Patricia.

He later married Lola D'orsay Coomer on July 3, 1971 at Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Carolyn (Bryan Becker) Winchester of Manitou Springs, Colorado; a daughter-in-law, Martha Winchester of Brighton, Illinois; seven grandchildren, Roque and Shane Winchester, Mikell Siglock, Nichole Hayes, Dylan and Max Becker and Sabrina Chambliss; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, David Winchester; a daughter, Patricia Fretzel Winchester; three brothers; and three sisters.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. Masonic rites will be held.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the chapel, with the Revs. Bob Bradford and Justin Cook officiating. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park in Advance, with full military rites.