Winston Gale Champion's Obituary
In Loving Memory of Mr. Winston Gale Champion
Winston Gale Champion “The REAL ONE” was born June 7, 1946, to the parents of Clyde and Berneather Champion. Winston was one of five siblings, two girls and 3 boys. As the first boy in the family, “The Champ Had Arrived”. He set the tone on being the Best at everything.
Winston accepted Christ at an early age. He attended Greenville Public Schools. A star football player in high school, Winston started at the full back position for Greenville’s Carver High School Tigers football team. There he became well known and developed the reputation for running over his opponents on the field. Winston graduated from Greenville Carver High School in 1964 where he excelled in sports and received several sports scholarships, awards and accolades.
After graduating high school, Winston briefly attended Amarillo College before being drafted into the U. S. Army in 1966. Shortly after entering the military, he married his high school sweetheart Lola Ramsire in April of that same year. Winston served two years in the military. They welcomed three beautiful daughters to their marriage, twin daughters Sharon Gale and Karen Dale and later baby daughter Traci.
After the military Winston returned to college. He graduated with honors from East Texas State University in 1977 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Industrial Management. His working career included tenures at Kraft Foods, Haggar Slacks, Sherwin Williams, El Reno Oklahoma Correctional Facility and finally Seagoville Texas Correctional Facility as a supervisor where he retired in 2003. Winston was very driven. He was a Jack of all trades. He could figure out and fix anything! Winston was a superb handyman, completing home projects such as painting and carpentry, often times for church members, family, and friends.
As a young father, he was a founding member of “The Greenville Motorcycle Club” in Greenville, Texas. He loved riding his motorcycle until one day when he said, “All good things must come to an end”!
He was always a huge sports fan. He loved the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, and Texas Rangers! Win or lose, like any good coach, he could always tell you what the problems were with the team!
In later years he enjoyed relaxing around the house. He enjoyed working on puzzles with his grandson, and watching “Gunsmoke”, “Bonanza”, and “The Three Stooges”.
He was a loving husband, father, grandpa and gentle spirit to all. As a father, he was stern but kind with an understanding heart. He loved without conditions. His greatest role was being grandpa to Briana and Jayden. He was always available and dependable for school events, pick-up/drop-offs, moving days to college, apartments or just spending time!
Winston loved to make people laugh! He will be missed by all! But his legacy, kindness and do anything “work ethic” will continue to be contagious through his family!
He and his lovely wife Lola have been long times faithful members at Mount Hebron Missionary Baptist Church where Winston has served on the Usher Board for many years. He truly loved ushering and took his assigned responsibility very seriously.
Winston is preceded in death by his parents Clyde and Berneather Champion; daughter Karen Dale Champion: brothers Irving and Arthur “Bo” Champion; sister, Willie “Baby Sistah” Champion Bogar.
Winston leaves to cherish his memories a loving wife, Lola, daughters, Sharon and Traci; grandchildren Briana and Jayden Champion; sister, Anita (Cloid) Adams, sister-in-law, Ramona Champion, brother-in-law Dwight Bogar, sisters-in-law: Lena Dennis, Joyce (Johnny) Morris, Patricia (Elvin)McCurdy, brothers-in-law: Marvin (Vera) Ramsire, Terry, Larry and Gregory Ramsire and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
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