Iona, the oldest of nine, was born on March 19, 1939 in Richmond, Kentucky in the tenant quarters on what is now the historical Battlefield Park, where her father worked as a share cropper. Growing up in Kentucky, Iona loved running barefoot through the grass, picking blackberries, climbing trees and hanging upside down on the limbs, and making mud houses by the creek. She graduated from Madison Central High School in 1957 and attended Eastern Kentucky University for a short period of time with a focus on business and music. Iona left her Kentucky home at an early age to become a military wife which gave her the opportunity to live all over the world – the Azores, Germany, and her most favorite place, Greece.
Iona was a lady of many talents including singing, oil painting, and sewing. She made use of all of her talents to brighten the world. She volunteered to teach the art of oil painting to her fellow military wives and sold many of her paintings in art shows. She sang for the Randolph Chapel choir for many years and performed the National Anthem at various Randolph AFB functions. Iona used her talent for sewing by serving as the “Sewing Mom” for the Judson High School Galaxies dance team from 1986-1990. Other hobbies included coloring, collecting quotes and poetry, and enjoying fine wines. She also enjoyed anything that involved making her home more beautiful – she truly loved her home.
Iona worked many years in civil service at Randolph AFB primarily at Foreign Training and Air Education and Training Command (AETC). After she retired from civil service, she pursued her passion for books and children by working as the Assistant Librarian at Metzger Middle School in Judson ISD. She was known by her friends and co-workers as the sweetest lady – one who always had a kind word, a bright smile, and a positive attitude. She was also known for her beautiful green eyes, her sense of humor, and her classy style. Prior to her career in civil service, Iona dreamed of being a nurse. She always reflected, “I was one month shy of getting my nurses’ degree because we got our military orders and had to move.”
Throughout Iona’s adult life, she received many laughs about her name – Iona Million. She loved to joke that “telling people my name makes me the biggest liar in the world because I surely don’t own a million.”
Iona’s significant other of 27 years and love of her life, Eugene Vigilante, remembers her as “my best friend, my companion, my love. As you would say, ‘I love you all over more than anywhere else.’ There were good times and sad times, fun times, and joyous times. Iona loved…..she is loved…..will always be loved. And now, my dearest Iona as you join that heavenly choir and sing with the angels, may your voice ring out clear, strong, and sweet. I love you.”
Iona is survived by her significant other – Eugene Vigilante of Universal City, TX. Her three children – William (Pam) Million of Clarkson, KY, Regina (Bob) Million-Mason of Mount Vernon, KY, and Alicia Million of Universal City, TX. One stepdaughter, Erica Vigilante of San Antonio, TX. Her six siblings – Georgia (Bert) Lunsford of Berea, KY, Donald Van Winkle of Fruitland Park, FL, Charles Van Winkle of Richmond, KY, Betty (Earl) Alexander of Richmond, KY, Carmen (Ricky) Marshall of Waco, KY, and Robert (Linda) Van Winkle of Berea, KY. Her three grandchildren – Tobi Horkman, Megan Crawford Smothers, and Shelby Million. She is also survived by ten nieces and four nephews.
Iona is reunited in heaven with her parents, William Clinton and Carmen (Rader) Van Winkle; her son, Daniel Wayne Million; two brothers, William Curtis Van Winkle and Ormand Van Winkle; and one nephew, Eugene Lunsford.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Iona’s memory to the Genitourinary Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center - gifts.mdanderson.org (choose “other” and type Genitourinary Center).
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