Leroy A. Winters

Leroy Allen Winters of Mecklenburg, New York passed away at Cayuga Medical Center on October 17, 2013 at the age of 89.

Lee was born in East Orange, New Jersey on Jan 29, 1924, a son of the late Ernest Adam and Edith Catherine Wilhemina (Altemiller) Winters. He served in the United States Army during WW II and was honorably discharged in 1946.

He attended Rutgers University in New Jersey and graduated in 1954 with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture. In 1957, he started his own business, Lee Winters Landscaping, which he operated from his home in Mecklenburg until his retirement at age 81. Many properties in the Ithaca area still give tribute to his beautiful and creative landscape designs.

Lee loved and respected the natural world and was very knowledgeable about it. He was an avid gardener, amateur naturalist, bird-watcher, hunter and fisherman. He loved being surrounded by his family and sharing experiences with them outdoors.

Music was very important in his life. He played the piano by ear daily until the week of his death, and served as choir director at his church for a number of years. He loved The Lord, and demonstrated his faith in quiet service to his family, friends, church and community. He will be remembered with abiding love and admiration.

Lee is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol Metcalf Winters; five children, Natalie (Raymond) Porter, David (Dolores) Winters, Diane Winters, Holly (Christopher Standish) Winters, and Scott Winters; and 4 grandchildren, Isaiah and Joshua Porter, David Scott Winters, and Margot Standish. In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by a sister, Jane Reed Dorsey.

A funeral service will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 26 at the Trumansburg United Methodist Church, 80 East Main Street, Trumansburg with Rev. Cheryl Hine officiating. Immediately after the service, all are invited to join the family in the church hall for a buffet luncheon. A private burial for the family will follow.

Lee's family asks those who wish to make a contribution in his memory to kindly consider the Mecklenburg United Methodist Church, PO Box 66, Mecklenburg, NY 14863 or the Mecklenburg Fire Department, PO Box 108, Mecklenburg, NY 14863 or the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. Please be advised all donations are tax deductible.