Willis Rutledge Winters

Willis R. Winters, age 89, passed away Saturday, February 7, 2015. Graveside funeral services will be 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at the Peace Chapel at Trinity Memorial Park in Big Spring. Visitation with the family will be at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home from 12:00 noon to 1:30 PM Wednesday. A Memorial Service will be held at First Baptist Church Chapel in Plainview Friday, February 13, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation with the family will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the church parlor.Willis R Winters was born April 19, 1925 in Big Spring, Texas to Willis G. Winters and Fern Rutledge Winters, early settlers of the Vincent community. He attended Vincent Schools where he participated in basketball and 4-H. He received the highest scholarship award during his tenth year along with the Thomas E. Wilson award for outstanding work in beef cattle production during his three years of 4-H club work.He graduated from Coahoma High School in 1942, and worked during the summer for the Howard County Agricultural Stabilization Committee (ASC). He attended John Tarleton State College for one year and was enrolled in the ROTC program. In May 1944 he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and was discharged as a Corporal November 22, 1945.He returned to Vincent to continue farming and married Patty Fay Carpenter June 30, 1946. In 1951 they moved to Pecos to farm in the newly opened irrigation area.In addition to farming he established Winters Construction Company – building concrete irrigation ditches. He was the owner of the Madera Valley Cotton Seed Delinting Plant and Ionate Fertilizer Manufacturing Company at Verhalen, Texas. In conjunction with the construction company, he operated a gravel-pit on the Toyah Creek at Balmorhea, processing sand and gravel and shipping large landscaping rocks across Texas. In 1965 he and Patty purchased the Madera Valley News where he served in advertising. He was a distributor of ladybugs to area farmers and in 1960, developed a radio signal system that automatically started the well irrigation flow.He was a member of the Balmorhea School Board for four years, a Lions Club member, supervisor of the Toyah-Limpia Soil Conservation District and a Deacon in the First Baptist Church.In 1967 the family moved to Alpine where he attended Sul Ross State University and was on the college honor List that year.In 1973 he moved to Plainview where he became a partner in Bio Ag Supply. He was active in Gideons International, was a volunteer at the Wheeler and Formby Prison units in Plainview and the Tulia Prison unit. He was a Rotary Club member, a deacon in the First Baptist Church and a member of the High Plains Gem and Mineral Association.In 1992 he and Patty moved to Quitaque where they had purchased a large ranch house and operated the Quitaque Quail Lodge Bed and Breakfast.He moved to Kress in 1999 and while there, raised a large garden to benefit family, friends and the Plainview Faith In Sharing House. He and Patty took over the operation of the Formby Visitor’s Center, a ministry benefiting relatives who had family members in the local prison units.In 2005 the family moved back to Plainview where he and Patty were volunteers for Meals on Wheels and where he continued to be active in his church as long as his health permitted.He is survived by his wife, Patty; a daughter, Patricia Stephens of Eden; three sons and daughters-in-laws, Will Ed and Cynthia Winters of Spicewood, David and Debbie Winters of Plainview and Stephen and Deb Winters of Avondale, Arizona; along with nine grandchildren and spouses, Angela and Stephen Southern of Temple, Luke and Jaime Winters of Amarillo, Josh and Jessica Stephens, Brittany and Clint Reichenau of Wall, Cade and Jessica Winters of Lake Weatherford, Brett and Courtney Winters of Plano, Jared and Bryn Winters of Cache, Oklahoma, Kayla Winters of Seattle, Washington and Bennett Winters of Avondale, Arizona.Also surviving are fourteen great-grandchildren, Aubrey Ky and Presley Ann Stephens, and Gage and Ian Reichenau of Wall, Collin Southern of Temple, Mallory Winters of Amarillo, Riley Anne, Ruby and Claire Winters of Lake Weatherford, Jameston, Blake and Elise Winters of Plano and Layne and Wyatt Winters of Cache, Oklahoma.He was preceded in death by his parents, Willis G. and Fern Winters; his brother, Bill Winters; and his son-in-law, John Stephens.Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 205 W. 8th Street, Plainview, TX 79072 or Gideons International, PO Box 771, Plainview, TX 79072.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences may be made at: www.npwelch.com ,