Richard J. Winters
Richard J. Winters, 85, of Butler passed away Friday evening at the Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Born on Dec. 24, 1928, in Penn Township, he was a son of the late John E. Winters and Genevieve (Sheppeck) Winters.
He was a skilled mason and for a brief time was a member of the local bricklayers union. He spent the majority of his able life doing masonry work, during which he bricked many homes and created fireplaces that were works of art. His dedication to his work and his attention to detail are traits not often seen in today’s workplace.
In addition to his mason work, he also worked at the Pullman Standard Car Co. in Butler from 1957 to 1983 and worked for D & L Radiator at Armco/AK Steel Butler Works from 1990 to 2001.
He was a member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Surviving are his wife, Virginia M. (Kriley) Winters, who he married on Sept. 8, 1951; his four sons, Paul Winters, Thomas Winters, Kenneth (Donna) Winters and William Winters, all of Butler; his four daughters, Sandra (Chris) Norris, Judith (David) Zarnick, Kathleen Masartis and Mary (Rick) Etzel, all of Butler; his 15 grandchildren, Thomas Winters, Kasi Winters, Thomas (Marianne) Norris, Jon Norris, David Winters, Megan (Corey) Helfrich, Kaela (John) Hogan, David Zarnick Jr., Danielle Zarnick, Nicole Masartis, Chelsie Masartis, Adam Etzel, Brian Etzel, Mark Etzel and Billie Winters; his five great-grandchildren, Haley and Madison Norris, McKinley Helfrich, Kayci Hogan and Ryleigh Norris; his brother, Ronald (Joanne) Winters of Florida; and his two sisters-in-law, Carol Kriley and Sandy Winters, both of Butler.
He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Ralph and Rodney Winters.
Winters — The friends of Richard J. Winters, who passed away Friday, April 11, 2014, will be received at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., with the Rev. Harry Bielewicz, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Butler County Memorial Park.St. Paul's Catholic Women and Christian Mothers will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church to recite the rosary.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Greater PA, 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110, or at www.alz/join_the_cause_donate.asp.Also, donations may be made to the Amedisys Hospice, 240 Pullman Square, Butler, PA 16001.For more information or to leave an online condolence, visit www.geibelfuneralhome.com.
