Richard Lowe Winstead
Richard Lowe Winstead of Lake Forest Village in Denton, Texas, died November 09, 2009 at the Presbyterian Hospital in Denton. He was born April 08, 1926 in Scott County, Mississippi, to the late Claude Walter and Susan Ada Cooper Winstead.
Following his graduation from East Central Junior College in 1944, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed in the Pacific in World War II, including service on the island of Guam, and served until June 06, 1946. Upon his return from World War II, he graduated from Mississippi College with distinction in 1948.
Richard began his career as a Chemist with The Texas Company (later to become Texaco) in 1948 in Port Arthur, Texas. There he met a school teacher, Anne Katherine Rike (Katie) of Haskell, Texas. They were married July 03, 1955.
In December of 1961, Richard was transferred to Texaco's Research Center in Beacon, New York. During his tenure in New York he worked with Texaco's Supply and Distribution Division at Texaco's Headquarters in New York City. In August of 1979 he transferred back to the Texaco Research Lab in Port Arthur where he worked until his retirement in 1985.
Upon retiring, Richard was elected as an elder at his church, Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Port Arthur, and volunteered at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Beaumont.
Richard's competitiveness and love of games converged when he entered his first bridge tournament in 1991. Duplicate bridge then became his specialty. He won the United States Rookie of the Year (ACBL) title that same year and became a Life Master in 1993. From then on, his mission was to partner with Katie and help her earn her Life Master award. That turned into an 8 year project, accomplished in 2001.
In 2004, Richard and Katie moved to Denton to be near their son John, of Trophy Club, Texas.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Odell and John William; and one sister, Thelma Thornton. His survivors include: his wife of 54 years, Anne Katherine Rike Winstead; his son Stephen and wife Amy, of Houston, Texas; his son John and wife Windi of Trophy Club, Texas. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Andrew and Daniel Winstead, Devon James, Cora, Seth and Jessica Winstead and Dakota James. He is also survived by a sister, Josephine Roberts of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; a brother-in-law, Curtis Thornton of Morton, Mississippi; a sister-in-law, Mildred Winstead of Townsend, Tennessee; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 12, at 10:00 am in Cole Chapel, First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Locust Street in Denton. A reception will follow in the Flinn Hall Lounge. A burial service will follow at Willow Cemetery in Haskell, Texas at 4:00 pm. Both services will be led by the Rev. Michael James Winstead, Richard's great-nephew.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lake Forest Good Samaritan Village, 3901 Montecito, Denton, Texas or the United Methodist Women of Denton's First United Methodist Church.
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