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of Chelsea, MI, formerly of  Naperville, IL
Age 105, died November 21, 2012 at Chelsea Retirement Community after moving there several weeks ago from Naperville, Illinois to be close to his loving sister, Evelyn Faucett, his nephew Robert Holmes and his “honorary” niece Sara Holmes.

At his 100th birthday party on November 16, 2007 Winchell informed everyone that his next goal was 105, and to everyone’s joy he made it!


Winchell was a citizen of the world and like all members of his family he had a deep appreciation for diverse international cultures and peoples. He was born in Bareilly, India to Robert Isaac Faucett and Myrtle (Bare) Faucett. Winchell’s parents and grandparents were Methodist Missionaries in India over a period of many decades. He attended grammar school and high school at Philander Smith College in the hill station of Naini Tal, India. Winchell was a true son of India. As a boy he had to shake his shoes before putting them on to dislodge any poisonous scorpions or snakes. Homes where the family lived often had King Cobras in the yard and sometimes inside the house where the children would collect shed snake skins. Leopards and other animals roamed in the surrounding jungle and came into the yard as well. In his early teenage years he hunted in the jungle with his younger brother, Leonard, and once swam (unknowingly) across a crocodile infested river. He survived many serious tropical diseases in his early life with the result that he had an amazingly strong immune system. He was fluent throughout his life in Hindustani and various Indian dialects.


Winchell graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa where he met his future wife, Velma Day. After graduation from college, Winchell worked for Firestone in Burma. Velma, who had never been out of Iowa, subsequently traveled 30 days by ship with Winchell’s older sister, Marguerite, to Rangoon where she and Winchell were married by his father. The couple honeymooned on the “Road to Mandalay.” After working and living in Burma and India for a time, Winchell and Velma moved back to the United States where he had a 35 year career as an executive with the Brunswick Corporation.


Winchell was an avid photographer and he loved to cook Indian cuisine and eat in Indian restaurants. Among his favorite Indian delicacies were mango ice cream and gulab jamun.


He was President of Mill Crossing Condominium Association in Naperville, Illinois until he was 95 years old and was also an active member of the hunger committee at Community United Methodist Church in Naperville where he and Velma had been members since 1976. He regularly drove his car which was heavily laden with food from his church to food pantries in Chicago until his mid-90s.


He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Velma; their daughter, Susan, his sister Marguerite Faucett Holmes and his brother Leonard Faucett. Winchell is survived by his sister, Evelyn Faucett, who moved in May to Chelsea, Michigan from Madison, Tennessee. He is also survived by his nephew Robert Holmes and by Sara Holmes, their daughter, Elizabeth Spaulding and their son, Charles Homes. He was also the great-great-uncle to Abby Spaulding and Sophie, Will, and Ingrid Holmes.
He is also survived by nieces Ellen Faucett, Deb Faucett, Nancy Casey and by nephews Ben Feldt, Gregg Mc Clelland and Bill Mc Clelland.

The family expresses its love and appreciation to:
* Rosa and Frank Ortiz of Naperville who saved Winchell’s life a number of years ago after a very serious fall.
* Roumi Petrova and Greta Woods who were excellent care givers and dear friends in Naperville. Since Winchell was a life-long learner and teacher, he taught them a bit of Hindustani and they taught him a few words of Bulgarian in the past few years.
*Members of the Community First United Methodist Church in Naperville including Nancy and Bill Abernethy and many others who were his Naperville family.

Cremation has taken place. A brief memorial service was held at the Main Chapel of Chelsea Retirement Community, Sunday, December 30th at 3:00pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Community United Methodist Church, 20 N. Center St, Naperville, IL 60540-4611. Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel in Chelsea.

 

 

Comments  

#4 Melinda Capp 2012-12-12 11:41
Thank you for this biopic of Winchell's life. I did not know him till his late 80's--I am Robert Holmes' cousin-- and he was funny, whimsical, and so smart, in several languages. I am honored to have known all his life. I am so glad I knew him. Winchell, I salute you.
 
#3 Robert Holmes 2012-11-25 05:57
Dear Reverend Grace,
Thank you very much for honoring Winchell's life tomorrow. I know that Community Methodist Church was a VERY special place to both Winchell and Velma.
We will never forget his 100th birthday party downstairs in the church social room. At that time we showed a short DVD of a few highlights of Winchell's life (100 years in approximately 13 minutes).
I will be glad to send you a copy.
Thank you again!
Bob Holmes
 
#2 Rev. Grace Imathiu 2012-11-24 19:38
We will have a moment of thanksgiving for Winchell's life tomorrow in our Worship Service. I will read his obituary and we will sing the Hymn Of Promise. Thanks be to God for a beautiful life!
Pastor Grace
Community United Methodist Church
 
#1 Allen Cole 2012-11-23 16:46
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