Lewis "Lewie" Winterrowd

1921 - 2018

Lewis Winterrowd

Lewis "Lewie" Winterrowd, 96, of Lebanon, IL, passed away peacefully May 4, 2018. Lewie was born October 19, 1921 in Bible Grove, Illinois. He was the third of four children born to Kirk and Althea Winterrowd.

Mr. Winterrowd was raised on a small family farm and attended Bible Grove High School before his senior year at Effingham High School. He enrolled at what was then known as McKendree College in the fall of 1939, and graduated with a degree in chemistry in 1943. He held numerous jobs on campus and particularly enjoyed working in the kitchen. He was a three-year letterman on the men's basketball team and served as captain his sophomore, junior and senior years.

In early May 1943, he began his career with Shell Oil Company as a refinery lab chemist at the Wood River, Illinois location. However, he had become so attached to McKendree College that he remained on campus as the Carnegie Hall (men's dorm) proctor. He would continue to do so for the next five years. It was during this time that he met Dorothy (Dee Lee) Faulkner. He often referred to her as the love of his life and the two were married August 13, 1949.

Lewie continued in various assignments as a chemist until 1952, when he was assigned to the head office in Manufacturing Operations in New York City. In 1955, he returned to Wood River as a technologist in the Experimental Laboratory. In 1956, he was promoted to the Chemist in Charge Analytical Division in the laboratory, and in 1957, he was assigned as the Chemist in Charge of the Lubricant Division. He was placed in charge of the Inspection Division in 1962, and ten years later, he assumed the duties of Supervisor of the Refinery Laboratory. In 1976, he was named Manager of Laboratory Operations with the Quality Assurance-Environmental Conservation, where he remained until his retirement in April 1983.

After retirement, he continued his passion for vegetable gardening and was known for his unselfish sharing of his produce. He and Dee Lee enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the United States and to various parts of world. Their most memorable trip was to the Holy Land.

He was an active member of the Lebanon Lions Club and Singers Society. He was elected to the Lebanon CUSD #9 school board in 1964 and served through 1971. He also served as President of the board for a four-year term. Lewie was a longtime supporter of McKendree University as a Bearcat Booster, patron of the Fine Arts Series and an original member of the William McKendree Society.

He was preceded in death by his son, Terry, who passed on October 13, 1981; and his wife, Dorothy, who passed away on September 25, 2014.

Lewie is survived by a son, Bruce (Claudia) Winterrowd of Naperville, Illinois; daughter, Sherry (Vernon) Christ of Lebanon, Illinois; four grandchildren, Jennifer (David) Grzenia, Adam Winterrowd, Tim (Trisha) Christ, and Ben Winterrowd; three great-grandchildren, Linnea Grzenia, Natalie Christ and Alyson Brown; and his brother, Doyne also survives.

At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lewis Winterrowd Endowed Scholarship at McKendree University.

Visitation: Visitation held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Meridith Funeral Home, Lebanon, IL, and again from 9 to 10 a.m., on Friday, May 11, 2018, at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Lebanon, IL.

Services: Funeral Service at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 11, 2018, St. Paul United Church of Christ, Lebanon, IL, with Rev. Dr. Don Wagner, Pastor, St. Paul United Church of Christ, Lebanon, IL, and Rev. B. Tim Harrison, Chaplain, McKendree University, Lebanon, IL, is officiating.

MERIDITH FUNERAL HOME, Highland, IL.