Rachel G. Winder

She built a respected career as a lobbyist, and her greatest professional accomplishment was helping champion Braden’s Law, signed by Governor Mike DeWine in 2025. Named for Olentangy student Braden Markus, the law made sextortion a felony in Ohio and strengthened protections for victims and their families. Rachel also founded and led the Ohio Women’s Coalition, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for women and women-owned businesses across Ohio. Her life’s work reflected her unwavering belief that everyone deserved to be protected, heard, and given the opportunity to succeed.

Rachel adored the team at Benesch Law, and her role as government relations manager, for over 13 years. Her leadership and impact were widely recognized, including as a 2025 Columbus Business First Women of Influence honoree and as the 2024 Ohio Auctioneers Legislative Champion. As meaningful as those recognitions are, they only begin to reflect the dedication, strength, and generosity Rachel brought to her work and to those around her.

Rachel was a proud graduate of The Ohio State University and a lifelong Buckeye fan. It was at Ohio State where she met two of her closest and dearest friends, Tina Lapp and Allison Maggiola, who she loved so much.

More than anything, Rachel loved being a mother to Emma and Grant. Supporting her kids in everything they did, cheering on Emma’s performances in drama and vocals, supporting Grant in his athletics, and celebrating every milestone in their lives. Both are so talented and she was endlessly proud of them.

She was also extremely dedicated to her nieces Linda, Heather, and Haley, her nephew, Peter, and her great nieces, Evelyn, Sydney, and Eliza.

Rachel was preceded in death by her mother, Linda D. Gross, and her stepmother Mary Lou Gross. She is survived by her children, Emma and Grant Winder; her father, Sydney L. Gross Jr.; her stepmother, Lois Gross; her siblings, Emily (Thor) Sandvik, Syd (Ben) Gross, and Lauren Gross; her stepsiblings Mick Heyman, Cindy (Peter) Eeg, Ginger (James) Pigott, Stephanie (Steve) Spetter, Pamela (Andy) Schwartz, Josh (Lily) Spetter, her nieces and nephew, Linda (Daniel) Walter, Peter (Leah) Sandvik, Heather Sandvik and Haley Sandvik and her great-nieces, Evelyn, Sydney and Eliza Walter, as well as many dear friends and family.

Calling hours and service will take place Friday, August 14, at Schoedinger Dublin, 5980 Perimeter Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43017. Calling hours will be from 10:00am to noon, with the service immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to any of the following charitable organizations. The Braden Markus Foundation, supporting the mission of Braden’s Law, which gives scholarships for higher education, Rico Pet Recovery Services (ricopetrecovery.org\donate), from which she adopted many of her beloved dogs, or The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (cancer.osu.edu/giving)