Atwood C. "Red" Winters

ATHOL - Atwood C. "Red" Winters, Jr., 77 of 28 Winter St., Athol, died peacefully Saturday, March 24, 2007 at home. He was born in Grafton, on May 17, 1929, the son of the late Atwood C. Winters and the late Cora R. (Fish) Marcoux. He lived in Grafton until 1946 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 7, 1946. He served in Italy during World War II with the occupational forces along the Morgan Line. He was discharged on June 6, 1949. He remained in the reserves until he was called back to serve in Korea from 1950 to 1952. In 1949 he married Minnie Vitello and the couple settled in Athol. After working as an apprentice for the Athol Bake Shop for a short time, he purchased the business and operated it for 32 years retiring in 1988. He was a life time member of the Athol-Orange Lodge of Elks #1837, the Athol VFW and the Disabled American Veterans and the Orange American Legion Post No. 172. He enjoyed years of hunting, fishing, cribbage, his pets especially his most recent dog "Joe Pete" and he enjoyed time with his family and friends. He leaves six daughters, Susan Leeman and her husband Joseph of Athol, Edith Fern Fregeau and her husband Herbert of Athol and their children Ryan, Amanda and Andrew; Marlene Lawton and her fiance Richard Hill and her children Eric and his wife Tammy and Brianne of Athol; Corlena Plotkin of Athol and her children Jason and Dominica; Charlene Recos and her husband Randy of Orange and their children Christian and Danielle; Theresa Joly and her husband David of Chicopee, MA and their children James, Kevin and Kelly; and six sons: Charles Winters and his wife Veronica of Athol and their children Erica and Mike; Brent Winters of Athol, Mark Winters and his wife Cynthia of Athol and their children Joshua and Emily; Bruce Winters and his wife Susan of Athol and their children Sarah Ouard, Christopher, Kyle and Matthew; James Winters and his wife Coreen of Athol and their children Shawn, Stephen and Timothy; Atwood C. Winters III and his wife Bonnie of Santa Rosa, CA and their children Atwood IV, Ashley and Samantha; three great grandchildren Courtney and Eric Lawton and Zidane Ouard. He was predeceased by his wife Minnie (Vitello) Winters who died in October of 1982. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 10:00 am in Our Lady Immaculate Church, 192 School St., Athol. All those attending are asked to go directly to church. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, March 27, 2007, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home 137 Main St., Athol. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in his memory to Athol Memorial Hospital, 2033 Main Street, Athol, MA 01331 or to the Gardner Visiting Nursing Association, 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440 or to a charity of one´s choice. For more information or to sign our online guest book please visit www.murphysfuneralhome.com J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home 137 Main St., Athol is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });