Rev. John Richard "Dick" Winter

Aug 22, 2023

Rev. John Richard “Dick” Winter, retired Pastor and Pastor Emeritus of Warrenton Presbyterian Church, passed away peacefully on August 14. He was 6 days short of turning 101 years old.

Dick was born in Kuling, in Kiangsi Province of China on August 20, 1922, to Reformed Church missionary parents, Annetta H. Winter (Schmid) and Theophil E. Winter. After his father’s unexpected death and a few years back in the United States, he and his mother returned to the Orient for mission work in China and Japan.

Raised from age 7 in Ohio and Florida, Dick graduated from St. Petersburg High School, where he competed as a pole vaulter on their state championship team. He attended Heidelberg College in Tiffin, OH, and was a member of the football team through his junior year before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Heidelberg by completing his studies at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, while in Marine Officers’ Candidate School training.

Dick enlisted in September of 1942 and was called up for active duty in July of 1943, ultimately serving in the Pacific on the USS Suffolk. He received his honorable discharge in January of 1946 and served as a Marine Reserve until 1951. During his Marine career, he discerned his call to the ministry and received his divinity degree in 1949 from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA.

“Rev”, as he became known to many, served for over two years as Pastor of the Lawrenceville and Union Presbyterian Churches in Virginia. He was then called to become Pastor of Warrenton Presbyterian Church in September of 1951, where he served faithfully for 36 years until retiring in 1987. He helped navigate the church through two building expansions via capital campaigns. Over the years, he officiated 295 baptisms, 602 marriages and 1,072 funerals and delivered over 2,000 sermons. He also served the Litchfield Presbyterian Church on the 1st and 3rd Sundays in the afternoon following services at WPC. He continued to serve as Pastor Emeritus for decades at WPC. The Fellowship Hall of the church was named in his honor.

With the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Company station house located next-door to the church, Rev. Winter soon became a volunteer fireman. The proximity allowed Dick to be first to report to the station, as long as it wasn’t during Sunday morning services, which were occasionally disrupted by the blaring siren. He was trained not only as a firefighter, but also as a fire truck driver, and for many years was among the most active firefighters. He also served as the WVFC Chaplain, a position he maintained long after his fire-fighting days had ended. On his 100th birthday in 2022, the WVFC named the firehouse as the Reverend John R. Winter Building for his decades of service.

Dick also served the community in a variety of other ways. He was a substitute teacher for Warrenton public schools and teacher for The Highland School. Besides filling the need as a JV football coach for the high school, he later supported the Fauquier High School Falcons by filming all of the varsity football games for over 20 years. He served with the local ecumenical clergy association, and sang annually in the Warrenton Christmas Chorale. Dick also led week-long Appalachian Trail hikes for teenagers as part of a program of the Virginia Council of Churches and helped found the original Fauquier hospice organization. He has been a member of the Warrenton Rotary Club for 68 years and was honored last year as a Paul Harris Fellow. He often led the weekly meetings in “My Country, 'Tis of Thee” with his superb tenor voice. Dick was recognized by the Fauquier Democrat as “Citizen of the Year” in 1986 for his vast and dedicated involvement in the community.

Rev. Winter dominated the local tennis scene, winning multiple titles and retiring the perpetual trophy from the Fauquier Swim Club Tennis championships. He continued playing tennis late into his 80’s, even after suffering a compound fracture of his dominant right arm. With a steel plate and an inability to twist his wrist, he had to adjust his game with some unique strokes, but continued to win regularly.

Dick was married to Mary Ruth (Roney) for 31 years from 1944 until Mary’s death in 1976. He was later married to Helen Housel (Hoffman) for 32 years from 1981 until her death in 2013. He was predeceased by his son Theodore G. Winter and daughter Gail

A. Winter, as well as two infant children. Dick is survived by his son Timothy M. Winter (Sarah), daughter Patricia J. Winter, son Thomas C. Winter (Sheryl) and daughter-in-law Mary Jane Winter. He is also survived by Helen’s children Christine H. Sinclair (John), John M. Hoffman and Suzanne H. Browning. Between his children and step-children, he is also survived by 24 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren and 4 step-great-grandchildren.

The Winter family wishes to express its deepest appreciation for the loving care given over the past 5 years by Latisha “Tish” Mann-Jenkins, along with her team of care-givers. “Rev” knew he was in very good hands during his final years.

Visitation and viewing will be on Friday, September 8 from 4-6pm at the Warrenton

Presbyterian Church in the Chapel. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 9 at 1:30pm in the main sanctuary of Warrenton Presbyterian Church.

Interment will follow at Warrenton Cemetery. A reception will be held following the graveside service at the Reverend John R. Winter Building, firehouse of the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Company, 167 W. Shirley Avenue, Warrenton, VA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity or the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Company.

Online condolences may be made at www.moserfuneralhome.com.

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