Lt. Col. Jackson Lemard Winchester

Jackson (Jack) Lemard Winchester was born to Goldie Devia Brasket and John (Jack) Hamilton Winchester in Lander, WY, on November 13, 1921, the youngest of their six children (Loretta, Albert, Winnie, Harold, Earl, & Jackson). He grew up on the family’s cattle ranch on the Wind River, helping with chores like milking cows and cutting alfalfa. Jack was especially close to his second-youngest brother Earl, and the two of them were known for creating mischief for their older siblings. They would tie the door of the outhouse closed with Loretta in it, put rocks and wood chips under bedsheets, and slip the halter off Harold’s tied-up horse so he’d have to walk home. Jack and Earl also had a habit of catching wild animals and trying to turn them into pets, including a badger, a coyote, and an eagle. Due to the remoteness of the ranch, Jack’s family were also his dearest friends, and his love of family continued throughout his life. Jack started his education in a one-room schoolhouse that his dad built on their property, and his schoolmates were his siblings and four children from a neighboring ranch. After a few years he started school in Lander. Jack claimed that when he was younger, he had no interest in school and that his brother Earl was the studious one, but that eventually changed. After a tragic ranching accident that took Earl’s life when Jack was only 12 years old, he became determined that life on a working ranch was not for him. Jack credited his brother Albert’s wife, Hazel, for encouraging him in his studies, and showing him a love of learning. His sister Loretta’s husband, Vic, also provided him with wise counsel at the time, and he spoke highly of both of them throughout his life. Jack graduated from Lander High School in 1939, and left for Oklahoma Military Academy where he played football and obtained his private pilot license. He transferred to the University of Colorado for his second year to begin a degree in Civil Engineering. WWII interrupted his education, but his newfound love of learning never left. Jack enlisted in the Army Air Corp on March 30, 1942. He soon completed navigator training and was assigned a B-24 in the 44th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force, stationed in Shipdom, England. At 22 years old, Jack and his crew flew their first bombing mission, which was to be diversionary only. However, they were followed by German fighters, and only 7 of the 12 planes in their excursion returned. The missions did not get easier, with two resulting in Jack’s plane crash landing. After 25 missions, he elected to remain overseas due to a young English girl, Sheila, who he was quite interested in. Jack began flying special missions into Sweden, and he and Sheila continued courting. Her parents, Bert and Grace, soon became surrogate parents, as Jack’s were an ocean away. Jack and Sheila were married in Norwich, England on June 25, 1945, and Jack was able to maintain assignments that would keep him in England until August of 1945. Jack was soon assigned to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, and in April of 1946, Sheila was able to come to the United States to join him. For 27 years, Jack had a distinguished Air Force career full of interesting and varied assignments. In addition to WWII, Jack also flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. He received two Distinguished Crosses and 12 Air Medals for over 120 combat missions. His more than 9,500 hours of flying time included participation in Operation Sonnie, the Berlin Airlift, Lebanon Crisis, Antarctica Deep Freeze Mission, Chile Earthquake and Congo Crisis. He retired from the Air Force on October 1, 1969 as a Lieutenant Colonel, but he was not ready to put his feet up and relax quite yet. The love of learning that he found as a young boy had never left him. Although he put his education on pause for the war, he never stopped finding ways to learn, even while serving his country. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Sacramento State College in 1951, with concentrations in Math, Statistics, and Government. He attended Military Command and Staff School, and Air War College. In 1964, he obtained a Master of Political Science from George Washington University. After retiring from the Air Force, he had a desire to share his passion for knowledge with others, as Hazel did for him. He took a position as Professor of Statistical Economics and Corporate Finance at Florida Technological University (later UCF), where his daughter Jane and future son-in-law Walt were two of his favorite students. While teaching, he took sabbaticals to continue his own education, completing a Master of Business Administration at FTU in 1971 and a Master of System Management in 1973 at Southern California. He then became the Director of Graduate Programs for the College of Business Administration at UCF before retiring in 1982. While Jack was proud of his military service, and he loved education, his family was everything to him. Jack raised four daughters (Jane, Mary, Patti, and Sarah) with Sheila, and they were his pride and joy. His unconditional love for his girls always shone through. Although he had to be away from them often for his military assignments, he was a hands-on dad when he was home, and the family would often follow him on overseas assignments and stay with Sheila’s parents in order to be near him. He enjoyed teaching his girls how to waterski, and they became quite a sight performing tricks on the lake together. He loved to travel with his family, and they shared many great adventures together. His love of family only grew as his family expanded. Jack was always game for whatever schemes his grandchildren came up with. Known as “Grandy” to his grandkids, he was happy to let himself get buried in sand at the beach or play a rowdy game of cards. And he was always willing to let himself be talked into going to get ice cream! You’d often find him, proud as punch, supporting one grandkid or another at a swim meet, gymnastics performance, or piano recital. Even the great-grandchildren could talk him into pushing them on the swings or playing cornhole, with the rest of the adults shouting for him to be careful! Sheila and Jack shared a life and love for over 77 years, and Jack’s love for Sheila was incomparable. Jack loved to tell stories to tease Sheila, his favorite one being that he picked her up in a pub. After retirement, they enjoyed many adventures together, and shared a love of golf. In their later years, he could often be found simply sitting near her, even if just reading a newspaper, taking a nap, or just holding her hand! Jack passed away on Saturday, April 8th, 2023 at 101 years of age. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings, as well as his beloved nephews, Marvin and Dale. With such a long and well-lived life, he will be missed by so many. Jack is survived by his loving wife, Sheila and four daughters: Jane and her partner, Tom; Mary and her husband, Walt; Patti and her husband, Bill; and Sarah and her partner, Rob. He also leaves behind his grandchildren: Charlie, Jason, Alison, Sarah, Jeremy, Joseph, and Rachel, and their spouses/partners; and great-grandchildren: Jared, Paige, Emma, Jack, Luke, Olivia, Drew, Tucker, Ellie, Will, and Deacon. He is also survived by his dear caregiver Pam, many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and dear friends in Florida, Wyoming, South Carolina, and around the world. In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Jack’s passion for education, the family requests that donations be made to the Westminster Team Member Scholarship Fund. Checks can be made out to Westminster Community Foundation and sent to Westminster St. Augustine Foundation, 235 Towerview Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32092. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 30th, 3:00 pm, at Crichton Hall, Westminster St. Augustine.

Lt. Col. Jackson Lemard Winchester

November 13, 1921 - April 8, 2023