Thursday May 21, 2015
WWII US Army Veteran Bert A. Winters - Susanville, CA

The Patriot Guard Riders having been invited to render honors to WWII Veteran Bert Winters. On a beautiful Spring day, with lots of threating rain clouds, the sun was perfectly out for 5 PGR, Team 6 California Honor Guard, Susanville VFW and American Legion to render Military Honors.

Bert Archie Winters was born July 25, 1924 in Geyserville, California to Archie and Lottie Winters. He died Dec. 11, 2014 at his home in Susanville. Served in the U.S. Army worked as a blacksmith during the war. Earned the WWII Pacific War medal.

Bert spent his early years on the family ranch in Sonoma County. From the time he was very young, he picked prunes, tended livestock and helped his father and older brother with heavy labor. Later while working at the shipyard on Mare Island, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served as a blacksmith in the 758th Railway Operating Battalion in Dibrugarh, India.

With the support of his wife, Ruth, Bert owned and operated a dairy and partnered in a small logging business. For more than 20 years they had Winters Fabric and Upholstery in Susanville. Next to the shop Bert built a basketball court. He loved sports and encouraged his son and many others to develop their skills. He was an endurance cyclist, completing five double centuries in his sixties. In his seventies he climbed Half Dome and Pike's Peak. He was a clever mechanic who fabricated many bicycles, go-carts and dune buggies.

Bert was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years; his grandson, Micah Winters; his sisters, Alice Petersen, Ellen Brown, Nell Saunders, Grace Burnett, Myrtle Bagozzi, Bernice Hodges (his twin) and Beryl Winters; and his brothers, Homer and Paul Winters.

He is survived by his brother, Robert Winters; sister, Betty Morris; son, Frank Winters; daughters and sons-in-law, Evelyn and Bruce Dyer, and Sue and Bob Somerville; grandson, Isaiah Winters; granddaughters, Sydney and Brynn Winters; and great-granddaughters, Ruth, Gracie and Makinzie Winters.

Rest in Peace... Your Mission is complete...

RC: Blake "Burnout"
NorCalPGR
blake@norcalpgr.org