Winifred Stokes Conway

“Wini,” as she was known by most, was born in Cairo, Georgia on January 2, 1922 to her adoring parents, Vester and Clyde Stokes. Her vivacious personality and lust for learning was evident from an early age, so after graduating high school, Wini attended Georgia State College for Women where, in 1942, she earned a bachelor of science in education.

After her first working as a teacher, Wini joined the ranks of Delta stewardesses during the golden age of commercial aviation. It was in Atlanta working for Delta that Wini met her first husband, William A. Smith of Floresville, Texas. After their marriage, the couple relocated to Bill’s hometown of Floresville, TX, where their son, Steve, was born. Wini actively participated in community life, serving as the First Baptist Church’s pianist and organist while raising her young family. Notably, in 1968, she made history as the first delegate to represent Wilson County at a Republican National Convention.

In 1973, Wini married Bill G. Conway. The couple met at a meeting of the San Antonio Audubon Society and quickly bonded over their shared interests of bird watching, camping and travel. Wini was naturally loquacious and loved to share with anyone who would listed tales from her travels around the world with Bill.

After Bill Conway’s untimely passing in 1998, Wini went on to marry an old friend of theirs, Bill Oliver of Shreveport, LA. Wini rellished spending time with her new extended family members as she and Bill Oliver split their time between Texas and Louisiana until his passing some years later.

In 2017, Wini moved to Franklin Park Alamo Heights after damage from a tornado forced her from her home nearby. She flourished in her new living environment and quickly became close friends with Dr. Teresa Stallworth, Blanca Garcia, and the late, and LaWanda McCombs. These ladies, like so many others at Franklin Park, made her last years truly golden.

Wini was preceded in death by her parents Vester H. Stokes and Clyde Gray Stokes, her husbands, William A. Smith, William G. Conway, and William B. Oliver III, and more recently by her son, William Stephen Smith. She is survived by her granddaughter, Kathleen C. Smith, grandson, William H. Smith and his wife, Rachel, great-grandchildren Katherine, Ava and Ian, as well as Wini’s daughter-in-law, Mary “Tito” Smith, and her wonderful stepdaughters, Sally Dooley, Carol Maguire and their families, her stepsons in later life, Bill Oliver and his wife, Jenny, David Oliver and his wife, Claudia, and her “adopted” daughter and great friend, Connie Brown.

Wini will be remembered for her indefatigable storytelling, which often focused on experiences from her world travels or the latest book on history, religion, or politics that she had consumed. She will also be remembered for her generosity, friendliness, fondness for politics and all things Republican, and of course, for her love of bird watching.

A memorial service, conducted by Pastor John Gordon, will be held in Wini's honor on Saturday, May 18th from 12 pm-2pm in the ballroom of Franklin Park Alamo Heights.

Wini’s family would like to express their tremendous gratitude to her wonderful caregivers: Angela Fryer, Rose Ramon, Frieda Everett, Rosalie Morales, Julie Zertuche, Natalie Rangel, Magdalena Carmona, Sharine Galloway, Janie Gonzalez, Rachel Ovalle, Manica Abrego, and Alejandra Mendoza.