Gary Dean Winton

Gary Dean Winton passed away Wednesday, Sept. 8, at his home in Temple. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at Coker Funeral Home in Jacksboro.

Gary was born March 6, 1945, in Wichita Falls, to Charlie Gilbert (Jack) Winton and Glenolene (Compton) Winton. He graduated from Jacksboro High School where he was a member of the 1962 State AA Championship Football Team. Following high school, he worked in the oil fields with his father. He began work with Sinclair Pipeline Company in 1968, in Jacksboro, as a gauger. He later moved with Atlantic Richfield Oil Company (Sinclair Pipeline Company) to Wichita Falls, and in 1975 he moved to the ARCO Pipeline headquarters in Independence, Kansas where he was Director of Purchasing. In 1995, ARCO Pipeline moved their headquarters from Independence, Kan. to Houston, where Gary retired from ARCO Pipeline in 1995. Soon after, Gary went to work for Brown and Root Industrial Services in Houston for several years, before he retired for good. On Jan. 31, 1964, he married Linda Jean Dobbs in Jacksboro, later divorced. On Dec. 8, 1987, he married Patricia Ann (Silger) Clapp in Independence, Kan.

Gary is survived by his wife, Patty; his daughter April (Steve) Nutt: his sons James (Suzzie) Winton and Robert (Erika) Clapp; grandchildren Cali (Matt) Bromley, Keenan Nutt, Jack Winton, Isabella Winton, Rebecca Winton, and Kyndall Clapp; and great grandchildren Reece Bromley, Nolan Bromley, and Bo Bromley; and his sister Sue (Lanny) Gill and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Glenolene Winton, brothers Charlie and Milton (Doodle) Winton, and sister Ila Rae Louder.

Gary was a great storyteller; he would entertain his grandchildren and great grandchildren with many stories of his childhood and his adventurous shenanigans. He was an avid reader. Because of his love for books, Gary invented the best form of discipline for his child who made an err in judgement. He would assign a book to read and the term to be grounded would be until the book was finished. There would be no shortcuts, as there were quizzes along the way. Gary was an athlete, who enjoyed playing softball, golf, and tennis. He loved attending his grandchildren's games or hearing the highlights. He was grateful to be reunited with the men of the 1962 State AA Championship Football Team. Many of his stories shared with his grandchildren were of the outstanding coach and amazing men of that team. He had the opportunity to share some final words of wisdom with his grandson Keenan, who is in his first year of coaching Texas football, "You can give them hell Monday at practice, but you don't embarrass them in front of their mom or dad, just give them your back, that will be message enough".