Dan Windus

WINDUS, DAN "Gentle" man, Renaissance man, Farmer at Heart Dan Windus, 58, died suddenly on Saturday, November 8, 2008. He was born in Wellsville, NY, and attended Scio Central School. In his early teens, his family moved to Ithaca, NY, where Dan graduated from Ithaca High School. He played trombone in the marching band. His love of the outdoors began early in life and he lived by a motto, "everything in moderation." His 21st century way of seeking distilled values in natural truths. Dan was fortunate to have his extensive family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to enjoy the American life that Thoreau or Whitman wrote. Dan was an avid reader and enjoyed a variety of conversations from economics to religious studies. After a few years of college, Dan joined the U.S. Navy during the draft of the 1960s. He was transferred to the Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA, where he worked as a hospital corpsman. Dan spent off- duty hours from the hospital serving as a part of the volunteer San Diego Mountain and Rescue Team, and at the Baptist Camp on Palomar Mountain. Palomar Mountain is where Dan and his bride Nancy spent their honeymoon. He returned to school after being honorably discharged from the Navy. A change in career gave Dan time to enjoy the toddler years of his son, Philip, as a full time dad. Dan studied horticulture and worked at Ecke's Ranch, then Color Spot, and returned to the Ecke Ranch where he supervised the technology at the ranch in Encinitas. He worked in Rancho Elementary School and Temecula Elementary School as a School Site Council president and member. He was the cheerful St. Nick for dozens of children whose parents worked on the Ecke's ranches in Guatemala. He enjoyed woodworking as well as the outdoor gardens. Wife Nancy and son Philip, his father Robert Windus, sisters Karen Castleberry and Barbara Henderson survive Dan. We will miss his humor, smile, and quiet words and generosity of his gentle soul.