Spencer Seymour Winters of Calgary, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 22, 2013 at the age of 86 years.Spencer was raised in Millertown, Newfoundland. He wed his beloved Evelyn, also a Newfoundlander, from Brookfield, Bonavista Bay, in 1951. They moved to New Brunswick and raised their four children in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as Spencer worked for General Electric’s large appliance division training sales people. In 1967 the family returned to St. John’s, Newfoundland, where Spencer built a successful, highly respected industrial heating and ventilation supply business. He worked as a manufacturers’ representative for companies such as Mark Hot and Volcano. After retirement in 1988 Evelyn and Spencer sold their home and travelled North America in their motor home, settling first in Florida for a few years, Wasaga Beach, Ontario for eight years, finally coming to the Calgary area in 2002. Spencer loved family first, his kind encouraging conversations were an oasis of support for children, grandchildren, extended family and a large circle of friends. His humour was uplifting. His faith was paramount. He actively contributed to the United Church of Canada wherever he lived. In St. John’s, at St. James United Church his hand drawn plans where used to extend the upper balcony seating area and he enhanced the pipe organ wall design. In Wasaga Beach, Spencer and Evelyn were founding members of the Wasaga Beach United Church and he served on the committees that actively pursued a location and the rebuild that lead to the existing church building today. Spencer volunteered with the Kiwanis, especially the music festivals, as he loved music. He instilled that love in all his children. He sang and played guitar and piano. Spencer’s many talents and interests included carpentry, cooking, sketching, painting, calligraphy, journaling, reading, photography, collecting coins and stamps, and researching both the Winters’ and Blackwood’s family trees. He also loved playing cards, making board games, and toys for the family, as well as watching his family’s sports, graduations, and musical performances. He enjoyed camping, picnics and nature walks often including grandchildren while watching for wildlife. The birds, deer, and walks with Evelyn at the Boland farm in Hill Spring, Alberta, brought immense joy. Dad or “Pops/Poppy,” will be greatly missed by his treasured family who wish to thank Dr. F. Oosman, the staff at Calgary Foothills Hospital and Bethany Care Center in Cochrane, for their compassionate care.
Besides his loving wife of 62 years, Evelyn (nee Blackwood), Spencer is remembered by his daughter Sandra and her son Joseph of Bradford, Ontario; Peter, wife Christine and daughters Laura and Mary of St. John’s, Newfoundland; Brenda (Boland), husband Craig and daughters Cassandra and Breanna of Calgary, Alberta; Karen (Gregory), husband Hank and children Mikayla, Brennan, and Eric of Bowmanville, Ontario. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Becky (Abel) and Carol (Wilfred), and an extended family. He was predeceased by parents Frederick and Emily Winters, brothers Ches, Abel and Wilfred, as well as sisters Laura (King) and Eslie (Taylor).
Funeral Services were held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Crowfoot Chapel (82 Crowfoot Circle N.W. Calgary, AB), on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca, to the Canadian Lung Association at www.lung.ca, or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Spencer Winters, a tree will be planted at Big Hill Springs Park Cochrane by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE N.W. CALGARY, AB. Telephone: 1-800-661-1599