Winfred Clayton Marcus

Muncie – Winfred Clayton "Wince" Marcus, 96, passed away peacefully at home on April 15, 2022. Wince was born on February 17, 1926, the son of Charles William and Ola Mae (Dunn) Marcus, in New Madrid, Missouri. His family moved to Indiana when he was one year old, and he spent the rest of his life in the Cowan and Muncie area. While a senior at Cowan High School, he spent spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a catcher. After he graduated in 1943 from Cowan High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy as part of the Navy Air Division during World War II. He attended the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma. He graduated as an aviation ordnanceman and aerial gunner and served as aircrew in a PBY Catalina, with a deployment to the Pacific theater in World War II.
After he was honorably discharged in 1946, he married Mary Kathryne Henkle on June 6, 1948. Wince and Mary were married for 70 years before her passing in 2018.
Early in his career, Wince worked at Warner Gear in Muncie. He later worked as a supervisor and buyer for Marsh Supermarkets, retiring in 1989. He was a member of High Street United Methodist Church, Whitney Masonic Lodge, Indianapolis Scottish Rite, Central Indiana Old Car Club, and past president of the Cowan Lions Club.
Wince and Mary were passionate about traveling and had visited all 50 states. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Crestview Golf Club. He was a bicycle enthusiast, cycling many tours around Indiana and neighboring states. Wince enjoyed running, completing several mini-marathons and was honored to be a torch carrier of the Pan American Games in 1987. Wince restored antique cars and entered his 1966 Mustang and 1986 Indy 500 Corvette Pace Car in local car shows. He had an adventurous spirit, white water rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and learning to ski at age 70.
Wince is survived by children Julie Marcus Johnson of Anderson; Nancy Marcus Pettiette of Houston, Texas; and Phil Marcus (wife, Vicki) of Muncie. Surviving grandchildren include Natalie Johnson Abshire (husband, Doug) of Avon; Kandice Johnson Clevenger (husband, Derrick) of Westfield; Clay Johnson (wife, Krista) of Carmel; Kathryne Pettiette of Houston, Texas; Kelly Pettiette Goerig (husband, James) of Katy, Texas; Shawn Marcus Churchill (husband, Caleb) of Muncie; Janna Marcus Turner (husband, Michael) of Noblesville; and Kylie Marcus Rich (husband, Gavin) of Oceanside, California. Also surviving include his sister, Norma Carmichael (husband, Bob) of Muncie, eleven great-grandchildren, and many beloved friends, nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Wince is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Charles Marcus, son-in-law Kent Johnson, and grandson Tommy Lee Pettiette, II.
Friends and family may call on Tuesday, April 19 from 4-7 p.m. at the Meeks Mortuary, 415 East Washington Street, Muncie, Indiana 47305. Funeral service will be Wednesday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m. at Meeks Mortuary at the Washington Street Chapel. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Tomlinson Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the High Street United Methodist Church, 219 S. High Street, Muncie, IN 47305, or Little Red Door East Central Indiana, 2311 W. Jackson Street, Muncie, Indiana 47303.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.meeksmortuary.com.