Lois Caroline Winters

Lois Caroline Andrews Winters passed away on February 9, 2020 at the age of 96. She was born on May 3, 1923 in Sacramento. Her mother, Lois Edna was a homemaker, her father, Francis Willard worked as a blacksmith for the Southern Pacific Railroad. They lived on Q Street in Sacramento until the depression, when the family, now including a sister Lillian was forced to relocate to an abandoned property in Amador County in 1933. As their parents worked to restore the property, the sisters would travel by bus to a one room school house.

After graduating from Ione High School in 1941, the girls left the ranch to return to Sacramento and attend Heald’s Business College. There, Lois met Leroy Winters, the love of her life. Their romance was interrupted by W.W. II, and in 1942 Leroy enlisted in the Army Air Corp. They were reunited after the war and married on December 2, 1945.

Leroy and Lois both enjoyed long careers with the State of California. Lois, after taking time off to give birth to daughters Carol in 1951 and Gale in 1954, returned to work and later retired in 1986 to care for Leroy whose health had declined. He passed away in 1996.

Lois’s later years were filled with family and friends and travel. Many happy days were spent at home cooking with her granddaughters, Holly and Heather. The girls will always remember the joy of going to Nana’s house. Lois continued to host birthdays and holidays until the end of her life. She was loved by everyone.

She was preceded in death by her husband; Leroy Winters, her sister; Lillian Ford, her brother-in-law; Bud Ford and her son-in-law; Jeffrey Wray.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughters; Carol Winters Wray and Gale Winters Greene (Steve), her grandchildren; Holly Lynn Greene and Heather Rose Greene, and her nephews; Tom and Tim Ford.

Family and friends will be received for a visitation on Thursday, February 20, 2020 from 3 PM to 6 PM at Harry A. Nauman & Son Funeral Home located at 4041 Freeport Blvd in Sacramento, CA 95822. Interment will take place at Ione Public Cemetery.