Claude William Winters, 99, passed away on November 4, 2025, at his farm in Eglon. Born on March 1, 1926, in Mountain Lake Park, he was the youngest son of Clarence and Bessie Florence (Gnegy) Winters.
He and his older brother, Harold, were raised by their grandparents, Charles and Cora Winters of Horse Shoe Run. Claude was a graduate of Aurora High School, class of 1944. He married Bonnie Jean Miller that fall and was drafted. He served in the US Navy aboard the USS Elliott until after WWII. His ship was in Tokyo Harbor during the signing of the Peace Treaty. He and Jean ran a dairy farm following the war until the early ’90s, when they changed to beef cattle, and worked delivering John Deere equipment for Bob Jackson.
He and Jean were married for almost seventy-five years before she passed away in July 2019. Together, they served on the Preston-Taylor Community Health Board, earned the 1991 Monongahela Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year award, he was a county commissioner, and in 1967, they were named regional winners of the Preston County Farming for Better Living award.
Surviving are their children, Carl (Nancy) of Colorado, Rebecca (Paul) McCollum of Kentucky, and Mary (Richard) Norwich of Eglon; nine grandchildren; and eighteen great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife; his daughter, Linda Lewis and husband Tom; granddaughter, Emily Lewis-Young; brothers, Harold, Orval, and Robert and their wives; and a half brother, Dale Winters.
Claude’s request for cremation was honored. A celebration of life was held on November 15, 2025, at 11 AM in the Maple Spring Covenant Brethren Church. He will be laid to rest at the Eglon Community Cemetery at a later date.
The Fredlock & Fenner Funeral Homes – Davis Chapel is honored to be serving the Winters family.
