John “Jack” Patrick Winston, age 94, of 72 Lafayette Ave., Waterford, died at Saint Mary’s Home of Erie on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, after a long and event-filled life. Born in Erie June 1, 1920, he was the son of the late John and Mary (Holland) Winston.
As a young man, Jack peddled papers and magazines to help support his family during the Depression and at one time had the largest paper route in Erie. After graduating from Strong Vincent High School, he worked at Erie Metric Metal before joining the U.S. Army. As part of the 135th Infantry Regiment, he fought bravely in the Battles of Anzio and Cassino. With the help of the G.I. Bill Jack attended Gannon College and received a degree in accounting, which led to a career with the U.S. Postal Service. He retired as the Postmaster of Wattsburg in 1982.
He found his life-long love and best friend, Theresa Ann Barczynski, and they married June 22, 1952. They started their family and moved to Waterford in 1955, where they raised their nine children.
In addition to being a loving and caring husband and father, Jack, along with his wife, Theresa, enjoyed providing personal care to others in their extended family as needed. His involvement in his church, formerly Saint Cyprian?????s, now All Saints Parish, was very important to him. He loved gardening, fishing, cutting and splitting wood to heat the home, and above all, being with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Jean Lininger, Mary Winston, and Mark Winston; his wife, Theresa; a son, Patrick Winston; and a daughter, Kelly Urhmacher.
Those left to mourn his loss are seven children, Melanie A. Overmoyer and her husband, Dennis, of Wesleyville, JoAnne Dibell and her husband, Richard, of Waterford, James C. Winston and his husband, Xavier IrAal, of Carmel Valley, CA, Mary V. (Vickie) Lippold and her husband, Gregory, of Bentleyville, PA, John P. Winston II and his wife, Chandra, of McKean, son in law Joseph Uhrmacher of Minot, ND, Theresa (Tracy) Greenman and her husband, Scott, of Waterford, and Jacqueline Smith and her husband, Gerald, of Grove City; grandchildren: Jessica L. Barrett and her husband, Mike, Nicole Overmoyer, Kate Overmoyer and her husband, Dominick D’Aurora, Adam Greenman, Daniel Winston, Dennis Uhrmacher, Jason Dibell, Caitlin Greenman, Taylor Wittmaak, and Benjamin Smith; and three great grandchildren: Willem Greenman, Maddox Barrett, and Zachary D’Aurora.
Friends may call at Van Matre Funeral Home, 105 Walnut St., Waterford, on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A prayer service will be conducted there Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at All Saints Parish at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Fr. Gregory Passauer as celebrant. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Erie.
Memorial donations may be made to the All Saints Parish, 11264 Route 97N, Waterford, PA. 16441, or to Saint Mary’s Home of Erie, Gallagher Center, 607 E. 26th St., Erie, PA 16504.
To the family of Jack Winston
You have our sincere condolences. Although we never knew him, we are sure he was a great man because he raised a great family. John II has become a member of our family and we are very lucky.
The family of Richard Spencer
My sympathy and prayers on Jack’s death. What a wonderful and truly eventful life he had. Theresa was my godmother and my family visited Waterford a few times. I remember Jack being so proud of the kohlrabi that he grew when we visited there once.
I am Theresa’s cousin, a daughter of Ray and Helen Tyczkowski.
Camille Schroeck