Funeral services for Harold Roby Winters, Sr., 75, of Arcola will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 6, 2019 at Boone Funeral Home, Leland. He passed away Saturday, August 31, 2019 at his home. Burial will be in Hollandale City Cemetery with Masonic Rites and Military Rites. Arrangements are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland.
Mr. Winters was born on October 30, 1943 in Hollandale, MS the son of Francis Marion Winters and Sarah Winter Winters. He was a U. S. Naval veteran of 23 years service. He served two, three year tours in VQ-1. From 1962 to 1965 he was a plane captain/crew chief on a EC-121M reconnaissance aircraft, flying secret spy missions against adversaries in Asia. From 1969 to 1972 he was Command Career Counselor. In both capacities, he made extended deployments to Vietnam. He was in VF-14 Fighter Squadron Oceana Naval Base, Virginia Beach, VA in charge of detailing the skull and crossbones the F-14 fighter jets still proudly wears. He retired in 1979 with rank of AMSC E-7. He contracted with Lockheed Aircraft to instruct Saudi Military to work on planes in Jeddah, Saudi, Arabia for 4 years. After his discharge the family moved to Arcola, MS where he started Roby’s Flying Service as an Ag Pilot, crop dusting for 6 years, then Roby’s Plumbing Service for 30 years.
He was a board member of the Deer Creek Watershed Association, VQ-1 Association, and Masonic Lodge.
He fought cancer for 3 years and left us to be with our Lord in the arms of his wife, son, Roby and Ashley and granddaughter, Gabrielle.
He was a truly good and loving man who dearly loved his family and will always be cherished by his family and friends and missed by all who knew him. We were blessed with amazing support and care from the Cancer Alliance Center, Dr. Hayek, Dr. Sultani, and their exceptional staff. Also to Dr. Cirilli and staff for always being there for us. Grace Hospice, nurses Lisa Saulter, Patricia Jones, Ashton Campbell, and Helen Claire Rosenthal. Bless you for being there for our family. Also, Terry Gales, VA Administration for all his work.
He is survived by his wife, Olinda O’Neal Winters; two sons, Harold Roby Winters, Jr. (Ashley) and David Winters; two daughters, Katherine Watson and Kimberly Burford (Paul); mother-in-law, Maria O’Neal; sister, Janie Fields (Harvey); brother, Charles Winters (Joyce); five grandsons, Michael Roby Winters, Zachary Ross Winters, Steven Watson, Mich Walker and Paul Burford; four granddaughters, Gabrielle Winters, Raven Brown, Kailey Watson, and Marianna Burford; a great granddaughters, Athenia Walker; sister-in-law’s, Shirley Boynton (Michael), Pamela Minnich and Gayle O’Neal (Larry); and brother-in-law, David O’Neal (Michelle).
The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.