Rickey “Rick” L. Winters, 66, of Evansville, Indiana, passed away at 11:20 a.m. Thursday, September 10, 2015, at his home. Although he is no longer suffering from the cancer he so heroically fought for almost four years, he will leave a tremendous gap that will never be filled.
Rick was born September 6, 1949, in Marion, Kentucky. After his high school graduation, Rick proudly served his country in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps as a forward air controller with TACP 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. After his service, Rick went to ISUE and earned his bachelors’ degree in Political Science. His most recent employer was Premier Electric Inc. as a buyer and job coordinator. In the past, Rick was very involved in many organizations; Sr. Vice Commander, Chapter 7 D.A.V., Sr. Vice Commander Vanderburgh Veterans Council, Adjunct 9th District VFW, Board of Directors, Vanderburgh Veterans Council, VFW #1114, American Legion Post #8, SAR member, Leadership Evansville, and volunteered at the Coliseum. He also had great interest in genealogy, history, politics, gardening and USI archives. His family will remember Rickey as an awesome dad, paw paw, son, husband, brother, cousin, uncle, Marine “Semper Fi” and a friend to all.
He is survived by the love of his life whom he married over 42 years ago, Jean (Yeckering) Winters; daughter, Sharon Y. Winters-Ridener, of Henderson, Ky.; son, Brett L. Winters, of Washington D.C.; mother, Wanda Sue (Wilson) Winters, of Evansville; siblings, Linda S. Winters (Rick Tillotson), Raymond “Mike” Winters (Donna), Daniel “Dan” O. Winters (Kathy), and Steven R. “Randy” Winters (Debbie), all of Henderson, Ky.; grandchildren, Cameron Laine Ridener and Aubree Shay Ridener.
Rick was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Lindy Winters and infant sister Sharon Y Winters.