Gerald Potter Winchell

JERRY WINCHELL Third-generation Waco businessman Gerald Potter “Jerry” Winchell, 71, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on January 29, 2003. His family celebrates his life and is thankful for his marriage December 7, 2002 to Cynthia. His children are grateful for recent opportunities to rejoice in their happiness, and regret his illness cut short their life together. Jerry was born January 15, 1932 in Waco, Texas to Oliver Kay Winchell and the former Margaret Blake Potter. He was a gregarious and fun-loving young man and loved to tell stories of various antics he and the other “Joy Boys” pulled as they grew up in Waco, traveled Austin Avenue via scooter, and terrorized Otis Stahl’s pharmacy. He graduated from The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut in 1949, studied Mechanical Engineering at Rice Institute for two years, and received his BSME from Texas A&M in 1953. He received an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in 1955. He went to work for the American Bridge division of U.S. Steel in Birmingham, Alabama for four years prior to returning to Waco in 1959 to join Central Texas Iron Works, a steel fabrication business founded by his grandfather. He worked in numerous capacities at CTIW, retiring in 1984 as Chairman and President after the business was sold to Herrick Corp. of Hayward, California. He married the former Jane Hardin Neely of Amarillo on May 4, 1957, and together with her reared three children and enjoyed more than forty wonderful years until her death March 14, 1998. He was active in numerous Waco organizations and was Past President of the Waco Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Waco, and Hedonia Club. He served for many years on the board of directors of the First National Bank of Waco. He was Past Loaned Executive as well as Past Chairman, Special Gifts Division for the United Way, and Twenty Gallon Donor and Past Chairman, Blood Services Board for the American Red Cross. In 1966, he was voted Outstanding Young Man in Waco, and in 1968, he was listed as one of the Outstanding Young Men in America. He was the 1972 Engineer of the Year of the Central Texas Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. A long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Waco, he served over the years as an Elder, Deacon, and Superintendent of the Church School. Jerry was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the James H. Lockwood Lodge 1343, Scottish Rite Bodies, York Rite Bodies Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine, Karem Temple, and the Royal Order of Jesters. He is a Past President of the Jesters of Texas and was Impresario for the Waco Jesters for fifteen years until his passing. He had an unparalleled sense of humor and the gift of superb joke telling and timing that endeared him to all his friends. He kept a large file of cartoons from the New Yorker and other publications, which he annotated and mailed to commemorate his friends’ birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days. An avid hunter and fisherman, he was a Past Director of the Waco Gun Club and whether it was hunting for dove, duck, deer, antelope, or turkey, or fishing for striped or largemouth bass, he relished the outdoors. Trips to the deer lease were an opportunity to spend time with friends, and Jerry will certainly be missed on Cherokee Creek. We’ll also miss his love of fine food and jazz, which he savored at every opportunity. He is survived by his wife Cynthia, son and daughter-in-law Mark and Melinda Winchell of Houston, son and daughter-in-law Craig and Celia Winchell of Dallas, daughter and son-in-law Gail and Jason Felps of China Spring, and ten grandchildren. He is also missed by numerous nieces and nephews and Cynthia’s three sons and their wives. The family wishes to thank Providence Hospice and caregiver Ethel Teal for their loving attention during Jerry’s illness. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque Blvd. is handling funeral arrangements. Following a private burial at Oakwood Cemetery, a memorial service will be held Saturday, February 1 at 2:30pm at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Jimmie Johnson officiating. Visitation will follow in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Karem Shrine General Fund at 400 Karem Circle, Waco, Texas 76712, or First Presbyterian Church at 1100 Austin Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY