Thomas Franklin Winders' Obituary
Thomas Franklin Winders, 74, resident of Hawthorne, Florida, died Monday, October 9, 2023, at the E. T. York Hospice Care Center, following a brief illness.
Mr. Winders was born in Miami, Florida on February 24, 1949, to the late Rodney Winders and Mary Lou Winders. He lived most of his life in Miami before moving to Hawthorne in 1992. Mr. Winders worked for many years as a sprinkler fitter, Union # 821, and served proudly in the United States Marine Corps and for many years as a Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary officer.
Mr. Winders, along with his late wife of 53 years, Shirley Kay Winders who preceded him in death in January of 2023, were active members of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Hawthorne. He enjoyed being outdoors, whether hunting, fishing or shooting, and he loved watching football. Mr. Winders was preceded in death by one brother, Rodney Winders.
He is survived by his daughters, Shannon (Joseph) Barbato and Michelle (James) Gray, both of Hawthorne; by one son, Frankie (Sheri) Winders, of Coral Springs; four sisters, Cindi (Bill) Blanchard and Sherri Howland, both of Hawthorne, Lorri (Tom) Veenstra, of Jupiter and Gayle (Clarence) Taylor, Hawthorne; nine grandchildren, Kierstyn, George, Tylar, Drake, Lauren, Cameron, Eva, Reese, and Thomas, and his first great-grandchild, Isabella Kay who is due anytime!
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 11:00 A. M., in the St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 7919 US-301, Hawthorne, with Fr. Mike Williams, celebrant. Interment will follow in Forest Meadows Memorial Park East, 3700 SE Hawthorne Road, Gainesville. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 13, 2023 from 5 to 7:00 P. M., at the Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Hawthorne, 301 South at Lake Avenue. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org.
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