Richard Albertson Winters of Southold died March 4. He was 79.
Born on December 14, 1935, to Harold D. and Marion (Albertson) Winters Regent, he attended Southampton schools and then moved to Southold, graduating from Southold High School in 1954. He joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Samson Air Force Base, Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado, and then moved to Orlando. After that, he went to Libya to test missiles and was in missile maintenance. He then served his remaining two and a half years in Simbach, Germany. Upon returning from duty, he went to work at Goldsmith’s Boat Shop in Southold.
He began his career at Southold Savings Bank in 1960, first as a teller, next as assistant treasurer, and finally vice president and mortgage officer. Mr. Winters attended banking courses at Ohio State University and Brown University, where he graduated in 1974. He left Southold Savings in 1985 and started his own mortgage brokerage business. Over the years, he helped many people obtain their first mortgage.
Mr. Winters was a member and past treasurer of the Southold Fire Department and member of the Packard Hose Company. He was a member of the North Fork Country Club and enjoyed playing golf. In years past, he was active in the North Fork Community Theatre and directed, produced and participated in many of the plays. Since 1980, he had been a member and past president of Seagyan Club in Peconic.
Mr. Winters was an elder of the Southold Presbyterian Church of Southold. He participated in providing meals for Maureen’s Haven and the Tuesday night suppers.
In addition to career and personal accomplishments, Mr. Winters also had passions and hobbies. He loved to sail on the Peconic Bay and he loved woodworking. He built his own home and some of the furniture in it. He restored an old 1926 Model T truck with his brother Gary, which is now housed at the Cutchogue Historical Society. He loved football, and in recent years became a NASCAR enthusiast.
He was married to Penelope (Hudson) Winters for 41 years, who survives him. He was predeceased by his father, Harold D. Winters; mother, Marion A. Regent; stepfather, Frederick Y. Regent; and a brother, H. Daniel Winters.
He is survived by four children, Virginia L. Staron of Virginia, Elizabeth A. Spiess and husband James of Southold, Amy H. Bail and husband Sam of Laurel, and Susan Winters of Southold; grandchildren, Ryan W. Lademann, Tyler J. Lademann and Hudson R. Bohn; a brother, Gary Winters of North Carolina and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held at the Southold Presbyterian Church on March 7. Burial will be at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad, 55135 Main Road, Southold, NY 11971; Eastern Long Island Hospital Emergency Room, elih.org; or the American Heart Association, heart.org.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes in Southold.