Howard Douglas Winstead

Howard Douglas Winstead, 84, of Rocky Mount, passed away Saturday. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 21, 2021, at Thomas-Yelverton Funeral Home, Wilson, NC. Interment will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, Wilson, NC.

The family will receive friends Thursday, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., at the funeral home located at 2704 Nash St. N, Wilson, NC.

Howard Douglas Winstead was born August 25th 1937, the son of the late William Clifton Winstead Sr. and Katie Batts Winstead. He attended Charles L. Coon High School and Atlantic Christian College and proudly served in the U.S. Air Force in Korea. His professional career included management and sales for Thurston Motor Lines, regional manager for Pilot Freight Carriers, President of Marketing for Harold Ives Trucking, and Old Dominion, from which he retired. In Rocky Mount, he was an active member of the American Legion, the Elks Club, the Masons, and Shrine Club. He was also Entertainment Chairman of the NC Traffic Club. A member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, he happily served in fundraising and was a member and Recorder for the vestry. He loved his family most of all, followed by his church, friends and work.

Surviving are his loving wife of 63 years, Merry Williams “Jill” Winstead”; a son, Howard Douglas “Doug” Winstead and wife and “Daddy’s daughter”, Deanna Connell Winstead; a daughter-in-law, Shelley Wyatt and husband, Jameson; grandchildren, Katie Jill Winstead O’Hara and husband Joe, Amanda Leigh “Amy” Winstead, and Thomas David Garrett; great-grandchildren, Aaron Joseph “A.J.” O’Hara and Addison Kate O’Hara; a brother, Thomas Winstead and wife, Lucille; a sister, Carolyn Winstead Davis; many loving nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Phillip David Winstead; brothers, Clifton “Cliff” Winstead Jr., Ralph “R.C” Winstead and wife, Margaret, Sidney Winstead and wife, Nancy and Leon Winstead and wife, Thula; sisters, Katie Winstead Walsh and husband, Miller, Marjorie Winstead Spencer and husband, Carroll, and Betty Jean Winstead.

Funeral services are under the direction of Thomas-Yelverton Funeral Home, Wilson, NC. Online condolences may be sent by visiting thomasyelverton.com.