Winslow, Sr., Gerald R.

Gerald Ray Winslow, Sr. was born on June 27, 1939 in the little town of Iola, Texas.  He passed away peacefully on January 19, 2021 in his home in Pasadena, Texas, with his wife Carolyn by his side. Gerald was preceded in death by

• His father, Louis Ray (“Dook”) Winslow
• His mother, Mildred Arra (“Mickey”) Winslow, and
• His youngest daughter Angela Kay Dillon.

Gerald is survived by

• His wife, Carolyn Joan Winslow
• His son, Gerald Ray Winslow, Jr (and his wife Kelly)
• His daughter Lisa Gay Fleming (and her husband Ty)
• His son-in-law Craig Douglas Dillon
• His brother Roy Dean Winslow (and his wife Patricia)
• His 10 grandchildren –
  • Elizabeth Palmer (and her husband Chase)
  • April Hayes (and her husband Darrel)
  • Amy Crouch (and her husband Jamison)
  • Seth Dillon (and his wife Asia)
  • Hannah Jenkins (and her husband Michael)
  • Katy Barris (and her husband Levi)
  • Ethan Dillon
  • Jordan Winslow (and his wife Hannah)
  • Faith Winslow
  • Grace Dillon
• And his 17 great grandchildren.

As a child, Gerald attended the Irvington Street Church of Christ in Houston, TX with his parents, Dook and Mickey Winslow, and brother Dean Winslow.  Gerald was baptized in 1952, probably by Ervin Schepp.  In 1956, the family began attending the Channelview Church of Christ.  Gerald exhibited a talent and love of music and would grow into an accomplished tenor and song leader in the Church. Gerald graduated from Smiley High School, attended San Jacinto College, and the University of Houston where he majored in Music. In 1958, Gerald was introduced to Carolyn Joan Williams by Ervin and Jewel Schepp, two wonderful Christians who enjoyed matchmaking.  Gerald and Carolyn were married in June 1959. In October 1960, Gerald and Carolyn welcomed their first child – Gerald Ray, Winslow, Jr.  In September 1962, Lisa Gay was added to the fold.  In July 1966, Angela Kay was born, completing this family of five. In 1960, Gerald went to work for National Life and Accident Company, an insurance company.  Gerald would make a successful career in insurance, achieving numerous performance awards.  In 1968, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to form the Winslow Insurance Agency, and he grew it into a successful company. Gerald loved serving his community in Pasadena.  He was a longtime member of the Pasadena Optimist Club and Rotary Club.  For three years, Gerald led the Pasadena Strawberry Festival Parade.  He also played “Santa Clause” at his children’s elementary school Christmas parties. The Winslow family attended Channelview Church of Christ until about 1970, when they began attending the Pasadena Church of Christ on Morning Glory street in Pasadena.  Gerald was ordained an elder of Pasadena Church of Christ in February 1985.  He maintained faithful membership in the congregation until his health no longer permitted him to leave home. Throughout his life, Gerald was a bold preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He began preaching at the age of 16.  In 1970, he began making once-monthly trips to help the congregation in Durant, OK.  In the following decades, Gerald held numerous Gospel Meetings in Churches of Christ throughout Oklahoma and Texas. Gerald suffered a major stroke in April 1989, and he would never be the same in many ways.  But the most important things never changed.  His love for his family never changed – he cherished the time he spent with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  And he never stopped loving the girl he married 61 years ago. Something else about him never changed – he never stopped loving the Lord and His Church.  Even in his last few years, he could be heard greeting his fellow brothers and sisters as they gathered to worship, and they could still hear his tenor voice raised in praise. Now, Gerald has left behind his old, painful, worn out body, and has entered into rest from his labors.  He has exchanged the mortal for the immortal, the temporary for the permanent, the diseased and broken for the glorious. He now has a new body, made in the image of his Savior, Jesus Christ.  Now, he sings with the angels, and has seen his Lord face to face.