Margaret “Louise” Wintczak

            Margaret Louise Wintczak passed away peacefully on October 24, 2017 at the age of 95.  She was the daughter of Thomas and Shophia Buckley and was born in Rural Retreat Virginia.  At a young age, she, along with her brother Stuart and sister Charlotte, moved with their father to Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, where her father and stepmother, Lillian Buckley, raised her.  She graduated from Boothwyn High School. Shortly after that, she met the love of her life, Ted Wintczak. After high school, Louise began working at American Viscose company, helping produce rayon during the war. When Ted finished his time in the US Navy, they married.  Louise then spent her time raising children, working at Sears, traveling back and forth to their beach cottage at Slaughter Beach, Delaware, and volunteering with the Girl Scouts and their many activities.

            When Ted and Louise retired from work, they sold their home in Pennsylvania and began a cross country trip in hopes of finding a suitable retirement community.  The holiday season found them in the Tri Cities to celebrate with their two young grandsons.  While visiting, they bought a home in Kennewick and stayed in the Tri Cities for the remainder of their lives.  Louise’s retirement years were busy and active:  she attended almost all of her grandsons’ sporting and school events, tirelessly made quilts by hand, created and dressed porcelain dolls, planted thousands of flowers and read countless Harlequin romance books and craft magazines.  Louise was also a member of the Kennewick Valley Grange and met other retirees at McDonald’s every morning for a cup of coffee for many years.

            Ted, her husband of 48 years, preceded her in death.  She was also preceded in death by her brother, Stuart Buckley and her sister, Charlotte Miller.  Louise is survived by her daughter, Gail Wintczak of Richland, her son Tom Wintczak (Linda) of Richland, her grandson Dustin Wintczak of Richland and her grandson Josh (Bethany) of Seattle.  She is also survived by 5 great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens on November 2, 2017 at 11:00 AM.  The family would like to thank the Tudor House staff at Guardian Angels Assisted Living Homes for the outstanding care they gave Louise the past 18 months.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Chaplaincy Hospice Care, 1480 Fowler Street, Richland, WA  99352.

“The winds will forever whisper my name.

The sun will forever show you my smile.

The flowers will forever remind you of me.

The love will forever be.”