Dayle David Winnie

1935 – 2024

It is with profound sadness that the Winnie family announces the loss of its beloved patriarch, Dayle D. Winnie, who passed away surrounded by family in Friendswood, Texas on September 1st at the age of 89.

Dayle leaves behind his best friend and devoted wife of 67 years, Shirley June (Schulz) Winnie. He was extremely proud of their two daughters and their families, Sue Beyer & the late Gary Beyer of San Antonio, and Sandie Cox & husband Virgil Cox of Friendswood. He is also survived by his four grandchildren Sarah (Beyer) Irwin & husband Elvis Irwin of San Antonio, Taylor Winnie Cox & wife Chay Cox of Friendswood, David Beyer of San Antonio, and Amberly (Cox) Lake & husband Jordan Lake of Houston. He leaves behind 6 great-grandsons, Henry Irwin, Walker & Baker Lake, and Weston, Daren & Reagan Cox, along with several nieces and nephews in Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother.

Dayle was born in the small rural town of Brandon, Wisconsin, surrounded by dairy farms and corn fields. His father Bill was the town barber on main street. He and his brother Wayne enjoyed the freedoms and mischievous adventures of a childhood & adolescence that only a 1940’s American upbringing could provide. He married his high school sweetheart Shirley in 1957. After attending the University of Wisconsin and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, he commissioned in the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant in 1958. Upon graduation, he worked as a Flight Test Engineer for the Naval Air Test Center in Paxutent, Maryland and later served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer for the 444th Fighter-Intercept Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base in Charleston, South Carolina.

Upon completing his service commitment as a Captain, Dayle returned to Wisconsin and worked as a Product Engineer in the Centralab Division of Global Union in Milwaukee, and then for Stoelting Brothers Company in Kiel as a Development Engineer. Shortly after a particularly cold winter in Wisconsin, he moved his family to San Antonio, Texas where he began his career with Southwest Research Institute. Dayle felt extremely fortunate, humbled, and proud to have worked alongside those that he considered to be “America’s Best and Brightest Scientists and Engineers.” He was a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of Wisconsin and Texas, a member of Engineers Without Borders, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Scientific Research Society of America. Dayle holds several patents and retired from Southwest Research Institute as a Staff Engineer in 1993. He received San Antonio’s Civic Recognition Award in 2015.

Dayle was also a gifted carpenter, seamstress, and car mechanic. He purchased a brand new 1967 Ford Mustang and kept it in perfect working order himself until selling it in 2020. He handmade dressers & tables, sewed curtains, and completed every aspect of home maintenance. His grandchildren would say his greatest project was the backyard treehouse he built in their massive live oak tree in San Antonio.

Shirley and Dayle enjoyed many traveling adventures together – skiing on 3 continents, visiting Europe, China, Russia, Africa, Australia, and South America. He took a trip around the world on a German freighter at the age of 65 that he enjoyed immensely. He was a very involved 55-year member and faithful usher at St. John’s United Methodist Church, serving on many committees as well.

Dayle had an optimistic outlook and worked very hard for the success he enjoyed. He was humble, adventurous, inquisitive, and loyal. As a beloved husband, father, and grandpa, his loss is deeply felt by the family he leaves behind. His was, however, a life well lived and the plethora of happy memories far outweigh the sad.

A committal service will take place on a date to be announced in the future at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.