George Owen Winegar, 78, of Howell, died unexpectedly Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the University of Michigan Hospital. He was born August 30, 1934 in Handy Township, Livingston County to F. Claude and Marion E. (Gehringer) Winegar. He attended the one-room Griswold country school and graduated from Fowlerville High School in 1952. George was married to his high school sweetheart Lois B. A. Hicks on Dec. 19, 1953 in Howell. He attended MSU and graduated as a veterinarian in 1962. In 1973 he obtained his Master's degree in microbiology from MSU. He worked for 33+ years for Veterinary Services of the USDA, including disease testing in Michigan and a two year assignment in Nicaragua. His career culminated in his assignment to Asst. Deputy Adm. of Veterinary Services in Washington, DC. In this role he engaged in foreign travel negotiating animal health protocols while traveling to over 70 countries around the world. George was interested in farming, genealogy, languages, local history and world travel. He was a life member of the American Veterinary Medical Assoc., past president of the Animal Transportation Assoc., a member of the Livestock Exporters Assoc. and Farm Bureau. He is survived by his wife, Lois of 59 years, their children: Kathleen (Jim) Branch Nelson of Norfolk, VA; Brian (Jill) Winegar of Howell, Mi; Keith (Denice) Winegar of Lino Lakes, MN and Benjamin (Cindy) Winegar of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Their grandchildren: Louis (Kristine), Amanda (Thomas), Matthew (Jill), Zachary (Emily), Timothy (Shannon), Allison, Emma, Peter, Jonathan and Thomas. Their great grandchildren: Nathanael, Perri, Parker, Elizabeth, Nelson, Rebecca, Christian, Colin, Owen, Reese, Finley, and Norah. Also surviving is his brother, C. Henry (Mary Lou) Winegar of Brighton, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Evelyn Winegar Grimm. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. (in-state at 2:30 p.m.) at First United Methodist Church, 1230 Bower St., Howell. Visitation will be Friday, April 26, 2013 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at MacDonald's Funeral Home, Howell (517-546-2800). Burial of cremains will be at a later date in Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fowlerville Alumni Association or the Livingston County Genealogical Society. Hotel accommodations can be made at Courtyard by Marriott, 7799 Conference Drive, Brighton, MI 48114 (810-225-9200). Please contact MacDonald Funeral Home with any further questions.
George Owen Winegar, 78, of Howell, died unexpectedly Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the University of Michigan Hospital. He was born August 30, 1934 in Handy Township, Livingston County to F. Claude and Marion E. (Gehringer) Winegar. He attended the one-room Griswold country school and graduated from Fowlerville High School in 1952. George was married to his high school sweetheart Lois B. A. Hicks on Dec. 19, 1953 in Howell. He attended MSU and graduated as a veterinarian in 1962. In 1973 he obtained his Master's degree in microbiology from MSU. He worked for 33+ years for Veterinary Services of the USDA, including disease testing in Michigan and a two year assignment in Nicaragua. His career culminated in his assignment to Asst. Deputy Adm. of Veterinary Services in Washington, DC. In this role he engaged in foreign travel negotiating animal health protocols while traveling to over 70 countries around the world. George was interested in farming, genealogy, languages, local history and world travel. He was a life member of the American Veterinary Medical Assoc., past president of the Animal Transportation Assoc., a member of the Livestock Exporters Assoc. and Farm Bureau. He is survived by his wife, Lois of 59 years, their children: Kathleen (Jim) Branch Nelson of Norfolk, VA; Brian (Jill) Winegar of Howell, Mi; Keith (Denice) Winegar of Lino Lakes, MN and Benjamin (Cindy) Winegar of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Their grandchildren: Louis (Kristine), Amanda (Thomas), Matthew (Jill), Zachary (Emily), Timothy (Shannon), Allison, Emma, Peter, Jonathan and Thomas. Their great grandchildren: Nathanael, Perri, Parker, Elizabeth, Nelson, Rebecca, Christian, Colin, Owen, Reese, Finley, and Norah. Also surviving is his brother, C. Henry (Mary Lou) Winegar of Brighton, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Evelyn Winegar Grimm. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. (in-state at 2:30 p.m.) at First United Methodist Church, 1230 Bower St., Howell. Visitation will be Friday, April 26, 2013 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at MacDonald's Funeral Home, Howell (517-546-2800). Burial of cremains will be at a later date in Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fowlerville Alumni Association or the Livingston County Genealogical Society. Hotel accommodations can be made at Courtyard by Marriott, 7799 Conference Drive, Brighton, MI 48114 (810-225-9200). Please contact MacDonald Funeral Home with any further questions.
