Dallas Edwin Winter

On July 15, 2012, a most honorable, giving, kind-hearted man, Dallas Edwin Winter, of Rocky Mount, VA (formerly of Pierson, Ml and Howard City, Ml), passed from this life and into God’s grace, receiving his much-deserved reward in heaven. Dallas was born and raised in Grand Haven, Michigan, and during his childhood shared good times with his sisters, cousins and friends fishing and swimming off the pier in Lake Michigan in summertime, and ice fishing upon the frozen surface of the great lake in wintertime. He also enjoyed exploring, hunting and trapping in Grand Haven’s outdoors. He later joined the United States Air Force, and proudly served our country during the Korean conflict. Upon returning from Korea, Dallas joined his parents on their farm in Pierson, and became employed with the Kroger Company. He married Margaret Cooley in 1956, and together they provided a loving home and a wondrous childhood to their five children in Howard City, and later on their own farm in Pierson. After raising their children, and retiring from Kroger, Dallas and Margaret moved from Michigan to Rocky Mount, Virginia, where he worked for several years at Lane Furniture. Although a Michigan native, Dallas was a Virginian at heart, long before moving to Virginia. Dallas’s love for this great Commonwealth was due to his deep reverence for the contribution of her tremendous sacrifices made throughout history toward the making of these United States, and to being drawn to the beauty of her mountains. He was happy to call Rocky Mount home and proud to reside in Franklin County. And so it shall be Franklin County, in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he will have his final resting place, amongst his beloved “majestic mountains”, as he so fondly described them. Dallas was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Marion Winter; his infant brother, Joe; his sister and brother-in-law, Eljean and Mac McRaney; and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Chet and Ruth Cooley. He was also preceded in death by one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife of 56 years, Margaret; their five children, who have been, and who will forever be honored to call him dad, and their spouses, Cheryll (Robert) Overla, Bushnell, FL; Steve (Elaine) Winter, Menifee, CA; Angela (Glen) Reder, Goodview, VA; Mary (Kelly) Keetch, Claremore, OK; and Patrick (Jeri) Winter, Catoosa, OK; his sister and brother-in-law, Delores and David DeNio, Muskegon, Ml; twelve grandchildren and their spouses; eighteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; seven nieces and one nephew and their spouses; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. He is also survived by life-long friends in Michigan and good friends in Virginia; all of whom he valued and felt blessed for the enrichment each one of these enduring friendships gave him. Graveside services will be conducted from Mountain View Memorial Park 2 p.m. Friday with Pastor Joe Dillon officiating. His family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Flora Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.