Donald Winslow

Donald Winslow, the son of the late Harry and Carrie Winslow, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2022, at Heartland/ProMedica in Union, South Carolina. He was 97. 

Born in Methuen, Massachusetts, he spent his early years in Massachusetts before moving to northern New Jersey at the height of the Great Depression. 

Don was a member of the “Greatest Generation.” As was the case for many in that generation, he was forced to grow up quickly with the advent of World War II. He volunteered eagerly, was stationed throughout the war in Hawaii and the South Pacific, and participated in the invasion of Okinawa.  

He was one of hundreds of thousands of American soldiers and sailors poised to invade Japan in “Operation Downfall” until atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, quickly ending the War. 

Upon his discharge in 1946, Don returned home to his long-time sweetheart Louise Stewart, and they married in 1947. 

With the assistance of the G.I. Bill, Don entered the Philadelphia Textile Institute (now Philadelphia University) and, in 1950, received a degree in Textile Engineering. His first job out of college was with the Millville Manufacturing Company (now WaWa) in Millville, New Jersey. Six of Don and Louise’s seven children were born during these years in New Jersey. 

In 1963, he moved his family to Greensboro, North Carolina, to accept a job with Cone Mills. In Greensboro, he and Louise added their seventh child to the family. Don remained with Cone Mills until his retirement, moving in 1975 with Louise and the younger children to Union, South Carolina, where he served as plant superintendent at the company’s Carlisle Plant.

Don was active in both civic and church life in the communities where he worked. While he was a man of deep faith, he did not wear his religion on his sleeve. He and Louise cherished the years they spent together in retirement. They loved to travel and especially took great pleasure in visiting their children and nurturing their 15 grandchildren. He was affectionately known to them as “The Bear.”

After 61 years of marriage, Louise passed away and Don moved to the Summit Hills retirement community in Spartanburg, SC, where he met and found new love with Daisy Caldwell. They were married in 2010 and had twelve happy years together until his passing, taking river cruises together down the Mississippi, into Nova Scotia, and around New England. In quieter moments, they enjoyed feeding the geese and birds at Summit Hills.   

Bear loved big band music, a good hotdog, a beer at the beach, and road trips to New Jersey. He loved babies, popcorn at Halloween, the Army-Navy game, and telling his children, “Be as tough as it.”   

But his greatest love was his family. In January, he and Daisy gathered annually with up to 70 family members, including nieces and nephews from up and down the East Coast, at Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Bear would put on his old Army hat and have everyone’s attention as he told war stories. 

The Bear was preceded in death by his wife Louise and his son Dr. Bob Winslow of Cary, NC. He is survived by his wife Daisy of the home; daughter Pat Nichols (Joe) of Union, SC; daughter-in-law Mary of Cary, NC; sons Don (Debbie) of Cayce, SC, Rich (Mabel) of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, David (C. C.) of Winston-Salem, NC, Stewart of Spartanburg, SC, son Bill (Kim) of Columbia, SC; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service for family only will be held at Grace United Methodist Church on June 29.   

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Children’s Program, Grace United Methodist Church, 217 South Church Street, Union, SC, 29379.

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