Irwin Thomas Winter

Irwin Thomas Winter, age 81, of Ft. Worth, formerly of West, beloved husband, father, and friend, went to be with his heavenly Father early Friday morning, December 8, 2006 in Burleson. Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2006 at the Gambrell Street Baptist Church, 1616 W. Gambrell St, Fort Worth, TX 76115. Irwin was born January 1, 1925 in Waco, the son of Thomas William and Alma Ruth (Coleman) Winter. He grew up in West and was a 1943 graduate of West High School. He then joined the United States Navy and served as an Aviation Machinists' Mate 1st Class until his discharge in May of 1946. In September of 1950 he was united in marriage to June Padgett, also from West, at the University Baptist Church in Austin while he was attending the University of Texas. Irwin graduated from UT with a degree in geology in 1953. He was a faithful Longhorn fan all his life. His working career started at the Corp Labs Inc. in Pampa, TX. They then moved to Ft. Worth in the early 1970's where he worked as an industrial engineer for Bell Helicopter/Textron until his retirement in 1990. Irwin was an avid tennis player. He loved spending time with friends and family, especially his three grandsons. But most of all, he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He had a unique ministry of sharing his love and faith of Jesus through giving away $2 bills marked with scripture verses explaining God's gift to man. He never tired of telling this story and only God knows how many lives were touched through his witness. Irwin was a member of Grambrell Street Baptist Church for the past 32 years, where he served as greeter and was appointed a lifetime deacon. He was also a member of Mensa and Gideon International, where he served as treasurer of the local chapter. Survivors include his beloved wife of 56 years, June Padgett Winter; two daughters, Jennifer Zachary and her husband Danny and Rebecca Plunk and her husband Dorsey; three grandsons, Joshua Plunk, Marshall Plunk, and Cole Zachary; a younger brother, Bill Winter of Bakersfield, CA; a cousin, Bud Wilkenson of Albuquerque, NM; and many nieces, nephews, faithful friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gambrell Street Baptist Church or dedicate a bible in his memory through Gideons International.