St. Clair County Obits

GERTRUDE M. WINDERS

Kansas City Star
7 November 2006
Gertrude May Winders, 96, Greenwood, formerly of Warrensburg, Mo., died Nov. 5, 2006. Funeral service 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home with the visitation half hour prior. Burial in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Warrensburg. Memorials to: First Christian Church, Warrrensburg.

St. Clair County Courier
10 November 2006
Gertrude M. Boswell Winders
Gertrude May Boswell Winders, Warrensburg, passed away Nov. 5, 2006, at the age of 96, at the Western Missouri Medical Center.
Gertrude was born on Aug. 8, 1910, to Thomas Madison and Effie May Tucker Boswell, Collins. Gertrude's mother died when she was only three, leaving her father to raise six children. Her two sisters and three brothers, Loyd, Ray, John Lee, Oral and Opal preceded her in death.
She graduated from Collins High School in 1927. She began teaching when she was barely 17 years old. Her first teaching position was at a rural, one room school house by the name of Shady Nook. She also taught at Mount Victory, Tillery and the school in Collins. During this time Gertrude attended Boliver College for classes during the summer and spring break. She also attended Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg during the summer of 1932.
In 1938 she was married to John Estel Winders of Warrensburg. John Estel and Gertrude moved to East Chicago, where for the next six years, John Estel worked at Inland Steel. Gertrude worked during this period in the steel mills.
In 1945, Gertrude returned with her husband to Warrensburg, where they purchased the Winders' Homestead.
Her husband, John Estel, passed away on July 5, 1954. He left a widow with three young children to raise; she never once fell short of persevering. The year following her husband's death, she redecorated a room in the basement of her home and taught a nursery school. The following two years she taught at Walker School, outside of Warrensburg. Realizing the necessity to complete her degree, in 1957, she returned to CMSC, where she earned her bachelor of science degree in education.
The following two years she taught in Leeton. The last 14 years of her professional career, Gertrude taught fourth grade at Whiteman Air Force Base Elementary School in Knob Noster. After 30 years of dedicated teaching she retired in 1974. She was an active member of her church assisting and participating in many programs.
Gertrude was a member of Del Kappa Gamma, Missouri State Teacher's Association, Missouri Retired Teachers Association and the Christian Women Fellowship at the First Christian Church of Warrensburg for 52 years.
Gertrude is survived by her three children, Martha Elaine Lowry, Lee's Summit, John Michael Winders and his wife, Debbie, Collins and GaeBelle Winders Hulme and her husband, Greg, Greenwood; 11 grandchildren, Major Jim Godfrey and his wife, Leslie, Ft. Riley, Kan., Andrew Lowry, Lee's Summit, Oliver Burnette and his wife, Diane, Kansas City, Chris Hulme, Independence, Emily Burnette, Durham, N.C., Conrad Hulme, Kansas City, Nicole Haralson and Lyon, Harrisonville, John Winders and his wife, Monica, Chilhowee, and Brandon Winders, Kansas City; five great grandchildren, Basil and Fielding Burnette, Aylish Hulme, Warren and Westin Haralson and a host of dear friends.
Funeral service were Wednesdady, Nov. 8, at Sweeney-Phillips and Holdren Funeral Home, Warrensburg, with Reverend Jerry Basye officiating. Interment in Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jim Godfrey, Oliver Burnette, Conrad Hulme, Chris Hulme, John T. Winders, Brandon Winders and Andrew Lowry.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the First Christian Church and may be left in the care of the funeral home at 617 N. Maguire Street, Warrensburg.