Jim was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to Joshua and Rebecca Winstead on June 10, 1945. He died April 20, 2023 after a courageous four year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife (Courtney), his son James R. Winstead (Deborah) his grandchildren, Reeves and Rowan Winstead and Jade Bernardino, his sister, Kathryn W. Ridenour (Cloyd), nephew Josh Ridenour (Lisa), and their children, Leaha and Kyle Ridenour.
Jim lived in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. He graduated from Riverview high school in Sarasota, Florida in 1964. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1968. He subsequently earned two additional degrees from the University of West Florida. Jim was an Air Force veteran and upon returning from Vietnam he was stationed in the Florida Panhandle, where he lived the remainder of his life. It was here that he discovered his career calling as a research marine biologist, working for the United States Environmental Protection Agency at Sabine Island, Pensacola Beach. He also taught as an adjunct instructor for UWF and PSC. He was considered an expert in his field and was published in scientific journals, where his work continues to educate the next generation of marine scientists.
He and his wife traveled extensively. Jim enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, gardening and Colorado football. He loved music and had a passion for dancing. Jim also participated in the Mardi Gras parade on Pensacola Beach. His favorite year was when he was King for his wife’s Krewe. We will miss and remember him for his unique perspective. He had a way to bring humor to almost any situation in his efforts to explain the unexplainable dynamics of life.
What Jim most enjoyed was his family and his friends. If you were a close friend of Jim’s you were a friend for life. What he truly cherished was being a father and grandfather.
A service for Jim Winstead will be held on May 4th, 2023 at 1pm at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, 3351 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, Florida. A reception will be held after the service.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BayviewFisher-PouChapel.com for the Winstead family.
