John “Buddy” Winder rejoined his angel Lucille on October 29, 2020 with his adoring family gathered at his side. He was born John Delmar Winder on August 15, 1931 in Austin, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry Figan Winder and Mollie Theo Skeeters Winder, brothers Buster Winder, George Winder, and Henry Winder, Jr. and sisters Faye Rodgers, Thelma Dearmond, Henry Jean Mills, Doris Reavis, and Robbie Winder. He is survived by one son, John D. Winder, Jr., two daughters, Linda Winder Key (Tom) and Nancy Winder Williams (Richard); four grandchildren, Marlynn Denise Winder, Brian Caswell Key, Michael Evan Williams, Zane Delmar Williams; one great grandchild and many special friends.
After serving in the Navy during World War II, he attended Texas A&M University on the GI Bill where he earned an Engineering Degree. An engineering job with Brown & Root to help build the Union Carbide Seadrift Plant brought him to Port Lavaca, TX where he chose to stay and raise a family. Soon thereafter he began insuring the lives and health of coastal residents with Southland Life Insurance, where he gained a reputation of unfailing honesty over the next 40 years. Going so far as regularly recommending his competitors to potential clients when he believed their policies were a more appropriate fit.
He was a devoted brother, son, father, grandfather, volunteer and friend. He was an active member of Salem Lutheran Church in Port Lavaca, TX, where he served on the Church Council and Building Committee, plus helped eat the countless pot luck dinners his wife, Lucille, often prepared. He was adored throughout local coastal communities for his generosity and tireless work ethic. In addition to bridge and dance clubs he was a Port Lavaca Jaycee and Rotarian. He was the oldest attendee on his Walk to Emmaus and was so moved by the experience that on the last day he cast aside his walker for the stroll to the chapel.
His fairytale marriage was a story of steadfast love that spanned 70 years. His angel Lucille took her place in heaven just four days prior and during his final moments eased their loving family’s anguish by making it clear she was there to meet him.
