Keith Warner Winebarger

Keith was born in a log cabin (really) in Merrill, OR to Hilery Bryan and Dorris Winebarger 11/12/35 . . . or wait, was it 11/30/35? The story goes like this: Keith was a spirited child; his mother was hopeful he would be able to attend school at an age earlier than the state required (11/15/35). She enrolled Keith in kindergarten. Being somewhat of a disruption in class, teacher investigated and he was sent home as “not meeting the age requirement”. Simple solution --- born at home, mother had a Dr. friend just change the date on the birth certificate to read 11/30/35 . . . true story --- on the original birth certificate the date is just crossed out and the desired date written in.

The family farmed potatoes and Keith’s father ran a crew of sheep shearers that extended their expertise as far out as Montana. The entire family went along. These experiences were rich in adventure and learning.

Eventually, there were seven children at home in the Winebarger family . . . Mother passed shortly after the youngest was born; father had major health issues. The situation dictated a change in residence. Keith’s grandparents took aboard all seven children to their cattle ranch near Macdoel, CA. Though already schooled in the ways of the west, there they became quite adapt at cattle ranching and a different style of farming. They learned hard work was rewarding and nearly all attended college.

Attended Butte Valley High School in Dorris, CA. He was active in sports --- favoring football . . . and had the nose to prove it! ROTC was a passion and inspired an early desire to serve his country; he qualified both in ROTC and in the U.S. Army as an “Expert Marksman”.

Keith “lumberjacked” the year after high school. He loved that time spent in the woods and said the smell of sawdust was only second to that of new mown hay.

Then, he, his brother Hilery and two high school friends joined the Army. The foursome was sent in different direction after basic training in Monterey. Keith was stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana and Fort Carson, Colorado. He found a special niche in the Corp of Engineers --- building bridges and blowing up stuff. He was so very proud of the time spent in the military (1955 – 1957).

At the end of his military service, he attended Oregon Technical Institute where he added knowledge to that gained in the Corp of Engineers. By now, Keith could fix anything!

1960 --- Married his high school sweetheart, Sharon. That single act produced the delights of his life: Rhonda in 1961 and Todd in 1964.

He worked for the U.S. Forest Service for several years. A family need called him back to home on the range. He and his new bride, Sharon, returned to the family cattle ranch and worked there for three years.

Next stop was the Sacramento area and Aerojet where his creative and engineering mind and expertise was put to work. Without compensation, he invented some little gismo that saved Aerojet a good many dollars.

His sister, Sheila, remembers during her stay to attend college, she gave the neighborhood their first introduction to the Winebarger family. In Keith and Sharon’s absence, she hosted a little get-together viewed by the neighbors as quite The Housewarming Party . . . visited by a couple of Fair Oaks finest law enforcement reps. Some months later, Keith busted her as beer cans were found in the linen closet and in the new landscaping.

Though a little rough around the edges, Keith had a soft side and cherished his family and friends. . . Valentine’s dolls for his “baby girl” and a special blanket for “my little man”. He bought both Rhonda and Todd’s very first outfits. As time moved on, there were swing sets, shooting lessons, a doughboy swimming pool with redwood deck around. Easter morning would find him hopping around the back yard hiding their Easter eggs --- In the early Dorian Way years, the Christmas season’s lights and outside decorations were second only to the Griswold family. Keith taught that hard work has rewards.

One of Todd’s greatest memories is of prying mussels off rocks and bringing home 150 lbs (in gunny sacks) of mussels. The bath tub was filled with mustard water to purge them and then it was neighborhood party time! Roy Weichold, being our neighborhood chef, was in the lead with the ways and means to steam and “soup” them up. Keith loved to tell that story and the one about “Todd’s first buck”. Ask Todd if you want particulars.

As a little tyke, Rhonda remembers the comfort and safety felt when she rode on Keith’s shoulders. Even though he wore wool socks (with the red stripe at the top) with his tux to her wedding, she loved him anyway. Rhonda laughs when she remembers the biggest and best grin ever on her Dad’s face . . . she met his truck coming into her place and raced beside him horseback --- wearing his old chaps. . . and hat too.

Not only was Keith a patriot, but proudly a political activist and kept busy with correspondence to D.C., the legislature and senate. It has been said that he was so far to the right that he came up behind those on the left. Believe you me, he had no problem voicing opinion and was once published in the Sacramento Bee --- he was very proud of that. Sharon was too.

He loved to hunt --- probably stemmed from his Grandmother asking that he “take out” the deer in her apple orchard. This deed was accomplished by shooting from the upstairs bedroom window. Of course, the dressing required a little more effort but could be done in the morning . . . with the hope a coyote or cougar would, in part, take care of the job. Though physically limited, Keith hunted deer until this last season. Ducks and geese were also fair game. (Keith held a lifetime membership in both the NRA and California Rifle and Pistol Association.)

Keith was a camera nut and shopped for them like women shop for shoes. At one time, he had every lens and filter known to man. Home movies were a biggie in the Winebarger household.

Keith was fascinated by stars and vastness of the universe. He had a telescope and loved to “scope”. He could name and tell of different galaxies, etc.

Keith was an avid reader and history buff. Found it hard to just sit without something to read. His Louis Lamour collection boasted of every book Louie had ever written. He insisted those books were not only adventurous, but were researched and held a lot of historical fact. Turns out that was more than true . . . complete with maps and accurate timing.

A golfer extraordinare . . . two holes in one and once won a year’s free golf. The family pretty much lost touch with him during that time! Luckily, Rob, the next door friend and neighbor was a golfer also and could usually track him.

After retirement, Keith became somewhat of a computer geek and could not be happy to just “read” about the workings of that blankety machine, but felt the need to dismantle and examine the inward works. Sometimes the results were quite costly and created a little “down time”.

Retirement lent free time and it was then Keith’s interest in cooking peaked. Mentored by his friend, Roy Weichold --- a chef and baker --- Keith became an excellent cook. Sharon said they ate like royalty. He would scour the Wednesday sales ads in an effort to create the next week’s culinary delights in the least costly way. By this time his health had waned, but no matter --- finally got him to ride the electric carts. He knew a great deal about meat and proper cuts --- many a butcher was redirected.

Keith gained momentum --- Homemade sauerkraut and pickles sprang forth. His computer hummed as he put together a cook book and researched the best ways to can, smoke and put together gastronomic concoctions. The prep and clean-up person has told me that in spite of the work, it was all great fun.

His all-time favorite pie was “gooseberry”. Now many of you won’t know of gooseberries. Generally, they’re found in Oregon and are very difficult to find. Sooooo, Keith scouted out the plants and raised his own. He also planted, pruned and cared for a fine grape arbor --- it is up to you to guess what came from that.

In Keith’s later years he was diagnosed with COPD, had asthma, emphysema. A friend encouraged him to join “Pulmo Pals” (a cardiopulmonary support group). This program not only extended his life for several years, but provided social involvement and a means to share his cooking expertise and tales of the old and wild west. He looked forward to Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings when he would don his cowboy hat and trail off to “exercise”.

His wife, children, brothers and sisters, neighbor and faithful dogs were with him as he began his final journey home. His passing was soft and with dignity.

The family finds comfort in knowing he now breathes easy and is free wheeling.

Keith was a fine man . . . He held true to his word; believed what he said and said what he believed; looked forward to a good argument --- known to switch sides just for the sake of keeping a good squabble going. We loved him.

He will be missed.