Eric L. Winters

Eric L Winter, beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather and Son passed away on Wednesday June 11, 2014. His wish was to be at home with his family and with the caring support of Evergreen Hospice, his friends and family enjoyed being together during his final weeks.

Eric was born August 23rd, 1950 in Santa Monica, California to Reed and Lois (Nelson) Winters. In December of 1953 he got a little brother Kurt. In the early 60's Eric's family moved to Seattle. Eric was responsible from the first time I set eyes on him. We met at the Seattle Center while our two schools (Roosevelt and Shorecrest) were having a rival football game. On our 1 month dating anniversary my girlfriend and I rode the bus to his school so I could give him a card. From the time the bell rang and I saw him I remember getting rushed outside along with the crowds and Eric telling me thanks for the card but I'd have to get back on the bus because he had to be at work in 40 minutes. He didn't like to be late, a trait he never outgrew! I learned from this that his responsibility to his job was very important and Eric never was without employment. The only time was the weeks between graduation and entering the Marine Corp.

Eric joined the US Naval Sea Cadets Corps years before I met him. I remember the first time I saw him in uniform. November of 1968. Little did I know he would soon join the Marine Corps.

After graduation from Roosevelt High School in June of 1969 Eric left for his 3 year commitment to the Marine Corps on July 12, 1969 as part of the Washington State Platoon. He left for Vietnam in January 1970. Eric was hit with Shrapnel and medevac’d out to Guam for a month before returning to Vietnam to finish his tour there. Upon his return to the states he worked to get top secret clearance to finish out his time in the Marine Corps at the Polaris Missile Facility at the Naval Torpedo Station in Keyport, Washington. Here he was Sergeant of the Guard. He celebrated his return home from Vietnam by buying himself a 1963 corvette and an engagement ring for me.

Eric got out of the Service the end of July 1972 and didn't miss a beat finding a job at night so he could go to school during the day. In mid-October 1972 he started work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the district garage under the supervision of Eugene Armont as an Automotive Mechanic, Helper.

We got married a month later and in March of 1974 bought our home. We welcomed our first son Garrett the following year and Ian 2 years after that. As our family grew so did Eric's career with the Corps. Eric had many different jobs as well as being involved with FEMA. He felt a great responsibility to do his jobs the correct way the first time. Do it well and right. Always be willing to learn and listen because you don't know it all. This was advice he lived by every day.

Eric got adventurous in the early 80's and went to work for our friend who was Vice President of American Campgrounds. There Eric served as the overall Field Operations coordinator, overseeing22 parks. This included park acquisitions, development, construction, maintenance and day to day operations procedures. He learned a lot and we had fun as a family going along to visit places we'd never been.

After a few years of new vehicles and lots of extra $ (always a great enticement for a young family) and even a Positive Thinking Seminar with Lou Tice, Eric knew his calling was with the Corps. Leaving the fast paced life at ACI and returning to work at the Corps was like going home. It felt good to him.

When Eric wasn't at work he enjoyed motorcycle riding and camping with his boys. The boys were pretty young when it started. Our oldest was about 7 when he got a three wheeler. Our youngest was 5 when he started only he got a regular motorcycle and learned to stop by hitting the fence! We must have gone thru dozens of motorcycles over the years and the boys still ride. It seemed like an innocent male bonding thing when the kids were young but when our oldest bought a Suzuki Hayabusa with a governor set at 175 mph because the thing went so fast we were a nervous wreck to put it mildly.

Eric also loved cars. We had lots of cars. Some already perfect and most others not. One ‘78 Chevy truck he had took special fuel. It shot flames out the exhaust when you revved the engine. It was so clean in and out that we even used to dust the engine compartment. Eric called after work one time and said he'd just bought a fire truck and he was coming home with it. The kids and I were waiting outside because all we could think of was a fire engine truck, but fortunately it wasn't. As he came around the corner we could see steam rolling out the hood and as he got closer we saw his face. Not happy. I ran for the garden hose. The truck was big and sat very high. Later Eric would sell this truck to a friend who got t-boned in an intersection by a Cadillac. It tipped the truck over on its side. With the help of his friends they got the truck upright and off he drove. The truck was a beast. I don't know how many vehicles he bought with the intentions of fixing them up. After a few years of them gathering dust and becoming hidden under mounds of garage things he would sell the vehicle and say no more until I retire. Then the next one would catch his eye and we'd do it all over again. He spent so much time away working that we stopped planning vacation time because there was always a flood or disaster somewhere. Besides we'd have plenty of time after he retired. Because he took so little personal or sick time he donated numerous hours to others that needed extra time off for illness.

Eric was the most generous man. He helped so many who crossed his path. He didn't like to be in the spotlight. He didn't even mention to us all of the recognitions and awards he's received over the years. I am still coming across notebooks full of them. No matter what happened in our life, good times or hard times Eric loved his family. He took good care of his family. He lost his brother in2005 and we took our nephew in until he moved to Kansas. His father lived and died with us in 2007 after suffering a broken leg and late stage kidney disease. His mother has been living with us since 2008.

Eric was such a strong person. He always had a solution to any problem, and was always so calm. You just knew everything was going to be ok as long as Eric was involved. He was our rock. We miss him more with every passing day.

The memorial gathering held on July 26th for his work family was a very special time for his sons and their families. They enjoyed it immensely and Eric's mother and I enjoyed the video taken of the stories told. I invite you to leave any story, pictures or message on this website as it will be a wonderful gift for our boys and grandchildren. Money that was donated at this event will be donated in Eric’s memory to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF):

“In Memory of Eric Winters”

383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor

Norwalk, CT 06851

Phone: (203) 229-0464

Fax: (203) 229-0572

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.themmrf.org

Thank you all for your cards and kind words.

Eric had a very special place in a lot of people’s hearts and that makes us happy. ~Stephanie Winters