Obituaries » Roy Ralph Winstead Jr.

Roy Ralph Winstead Jr.

January 21, 1924 - October 26, 2014

U.S. Veteran

A memorial service is planned for 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 29, at Peace Lutheran Church, 2540 Applegate St., Philomath, Oregon. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 2:00 p.m., at Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Talking Book & Braille Services, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301-3950.

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Roy Ralph Winstead Jr., 90, of Albany, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, after his illness. He was born in Tarkio, Missouri to Roy Ralph and Elsie Mae (Hazelwood) Winstead.

Roy lived in Missouri on his grandparent’s farm. He had many stories of farm life and the “Depression.” He moved with his dad and brother to Oregon in March of 1942. When December 7th (Pearl Harbor Day) happened, not much changed in his life. He kept working at the gas station. He received word that his dad bought a house in Lebanon. Dad sent word for mom and brother Bill to come to Oregon. Roy was called up for the draft and was classified as non-combat. He could have waited to be called up but he wanted to go. He trained for the Military Police. Halfway though basic training he was told they needed enlisted men with an IQ above normal.

In 1944 he met Virginia and was married in July 1944. They had two children, Linda and Dave. He joined the United States Army, and then went to Okinawa, and then to Korea. When the war ended, he was assigned to help out in a hospital in Inchon, Korea. After about 33 months in the army, he was discharged and sent home to Lebanon. He went to work in a plywood mill, and was then recruited as an insurance agent for Prudential. He spent 30 years as an agent.

Roy was divorced in 1978, and then married Fran in 1979. He worked in a contract post office at William’s Drug Store. He had a heart attack in December of 1996. He also had cancer and radiation treatments. He then ran a contract post office at Corvallis Hardware. Fran had her own Real Estate office in Philomath. They both worked 20 years.

He retired and Roy and his wife, Fran, enjoyed traveling to many wonderful places and had wonderful memories. Roy also loved to draw and fish. He went to be with his Lord, his Savior, after his illness on October 26, 2014.

Roy is survived by: his wife, Fran; son, Dave, and his wife, Rhonda; step-daughter, Charlotte, and her husband, Ron; step-son, Allan, and his wife, Debby; many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 29, at Peace Lutheran Church, 2540 Applegate St., Philomath, Oregon. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 2:00 p.m., at Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Talking Book & Braille Services, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301-3950.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.