Dr. Robert Winters

Services for Dr. Robert W. Winters will be held at Temple Bible Church on Monday, December 22 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Gary DeSalvo officiating. Visitation will occur from 10 - 11 a.m. on Monday, December 22, preceding the service. Burial with military honors will be in Central Texas State Veteran's Cemetery in Killeen, Texas on Tuesday, December 23 at 1 p.m. Dr. Winters died Saturday, December 20, 2014. He was born on July 29, 1926 in Newberry, Michigan to Grover Cleveland and Beulah May Shepard Winters. He grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and graduated from Union High School in 1943. He immediately entered the Naval Service on his 17th birthday, serving one enlistment in the South Pacific with the United States Coast Guard and a second enlistment in the United States Navy. During World War II, his US Naval assignment involved the development of radar, Sonar and LORAN equipment. At the end of WWII, he entered the Naval Reserve and was recalled to active service in the Korean War, serving on the USS Daly DD519 as an electronic technician. Following active naval service, Dr. Winters graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in English, Geography & Mathematics from Central Michigan University in 1949. In 1950, he obtained a master's degree in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University and in 1972 achieved a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. He held secondary certification in Michigan, Arizona and Texas. Secondary Life Certification was obtained through Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Dr. Winters was employed in Research and Development of Agricultural Chemicals for several years with Union Carbide. Much of his life was spent in education, teaching secondary schools for 20 years. He was Principal of Schoolcraft High School, Michigan and Chair of Social Sciences at Coronado High School Scottsdale, Arizona. He was seconded by the Commonwealth Teaching Service of Australia as a Principal Education Advisor for Special Projects in the Northern Territory of Australia in the development of bilingual education. In addition, he taught university courses in economics at Armidale Teachers' College, the University of New England, LaTrobe University in Victoria, Australia, Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Winters was the recipient of a National Science Foundation Fellowship in Economics and worked with Dr. Lawrence Senesh at Purdue University, developing economic programs for elementary children. While in Australia, he also developed a geography curriculum for travel agents at the Albury College of Technical and Further Education. Dr. Winters authored "Adventuring with Inquiring Minds," published by Jacaranda Press, Queensland, Australia, in 1974. He was the Activity Editor for Scott-Foreman's World Geography, published in 1988. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen and their three children: Amy and Anastasia (Temple, Tx), Joshua (College Station) and granddaughter Merah. He is also survived by his sister, Mildred Groner of Kalamazoo, Michigan; daughter, Rebecca Kell of Brookston, Indiana; and son, Thomas Winters of Lafayette, Indiana as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dr. Winters was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Gerald & Charles and one son, David Joel. Two of Bob's favorite verses underscored his love of teaching: Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint." II Timothy 2:2 "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." He served in teaching and pastoral roles in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia and Thurgoona, Victoria, Australia. After meeting several Texans at a Baptist Missions in Melbourne, Australia, Bob was invited to "come to Texas" where he subsequently taught English at Killeen High School, Economics at both Ellison High School and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and also enjoyed Bible teaching at First Baptist Church of Killeen, First Baptist Church of Belton and Temple Bible Church. Memorials may be made to Temple Bible Church.