John Wayne Winder

Longtime Angleton resident John Winder passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on September 23 at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness. A visitation will be held at Palms Funeral Home in Angleton on Wednesday, September 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. with graveyard services and burial at Old Salem Cemetery in Center, Texas at 1 p.m. on Thursday. Born to parents Preston Winder and Jewel Hawthorne Winder on November 12, 1939, he was named John Wayne by his older sister Mavis who kept a close relationship with him all their lives. He grew up in the small community of Caro, Texas and attended school at Central Heights, graduating in 1958. Some of the best years of his life he often said were playing basketball for the Blue Devils. He married Linda Johnson in 1965 and they moved to Angleton in 1966. He was one of the first five people hired when Angleton Danbury Hospital opened in 1969 and he worked there until 1996, leaving as director of purchasing. He especially enjoyed co-workers and the student workers he supervised in Central Supply each year. In the 1960s and 1970s he was very active with the Angleton Jaycees, working on local projects such as the March of Dimes and attending conventions all over the state. He coached the Jaycees Little League baseball team and worked all fundraisers. He was always close to his family, enjoying get-togethers at Caro and going on vacations with his brother Rho. He was just as close to his wife's family and liked working with his in-laws at their East Texas farms. Wherever he was, there was always a game of dominos underway. He never met a stranger and, if he ever met anyone once, could recall names and details years later. Just last week he shocked a nurse by not only remembering his name but where he lived - and he had met him once two years ago. He was a morally good person, one who was always helpful, trustworthy and kind. He liked a calm life and never went to extremes. The most exciting time of his life was the birth of his son David in 1974. The two shared a love of sports that started when David was a toddler and never stopped. He especially enjoyed the years helping out with David's baseball teams and then watching him play basketball for the Wildcats. More exciting times came with the birth of his grandchildren Saje in 2006, Sophia in 2008 and Finnick in 2012 and his daughter-in-law Renee still tells about how when Saje was a baby, he would go over just to watch her sleep. In later years he enjoyed playing dominos at the rec center and spending time with close neighbors. He volunteered with projects for his wife's journalism classes at Angleton High and also helped out with campaigns for State Representative Dennis Bonnen. Plagued with health problems most of his life, he started declining about ten years ago. He slowly lost mobility and his eyesight but kept a keen mind and never lost his ability to remember any and everything that had ever happened in his life or on a basketball court or baseball field. He was preceeded in death by his parents, his nephew Jerry Clifton, his brother and sister-in-law Bob and Myra Winder and in-laws Royce Johnson, Bill Jernigan and Maxine Jernigan. He is survived by his wife Linda, his son David and wife Renee and the three precious grandchildren Saje, Sophia and Finnick; his sisters Mavis Clifton and Sue Sanders, his brother Rho Winder and wife Juasell; nieces and nephews and many Hawthorne cousins. He is also survived by his East Texas relatives Royce Lynn Johnson and wife Isabelle, Karen Bittick and husband Wayne, Angela Lawson and husband Royce, Louise Johnson, Billy and Karen Jernigan, Larry and Lisa Jernigan and their families and many special people in the Johnson, McSwain and Jernigan families. Pallbearers will be Mark Clifton, Lynn Johnson, Shelby Johnson, Ed Johnson, Dennis Bonnen and Royce Lawson. Special thanks to nephew Mark Clifton who always went out of his way to help him. Special thanks to friend Sue Neill and neighbors Tina Bonnen and Mary Garrison for all their support in his last years and many thanks to the workers at IPH Home Health and Hospice for their care. Service Details. Visitation When Wednesday, September 29th, 2021 5:00pm - 7:00pm Location Palms Funeral Home Address 2300 E. Mulberry ANGLETON, TX 77515 Service When Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 1:00pm Text Directions Send directions to the event directly to your phone Phone Number: Send Email Directions Get directions to the event directly to your inbox Email Address: Send Email Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. View Tribute Book