Obituary of Gale Winslow

Gale Norwood Winslow, age 86, of Apex, passed away on Tuesday, December 10th surrounded by his loving family.

Gale was born on November 11, 1927 to Dempsey and Mary White Winslow of Belvidere, N.C. He was married to the love of his life, Betty Sorrell Winslow for fifty-seven years.

He was a member of Up River Friends Meeting in Perquimans County, NC in his younger years and faithfully lived the values of his Quaker upbringing every day of his life, never saying an unkind word about anyone. He also served as a Deacon at Parkwood Baptist Church in Durham, N.C.

Gale graduated from Perquimans High School in 1944 then attended Wake Forest University, class of 1949, where he studied Civil Engineering and played football. He continued his studies at North Carolina State University after honorable discharge from the U.S. Army.

Gale was a man who dedicated his life to service of others. He was a Sargent First Class in the First Calvary Division where he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and a Combat Infantry Badge. He also was offered a Battlefield Commission, but humbly declined.

Gale was employed over 35 years with the State of North Carolina at UNC- Chapel Hill as a Supervisor in the Utilities Division. In this role he was known for his patience, loyalty and his ability to get along with everyone. After retiring from UNC-CH, Gale worked for S.T. Wooten for several years.

Gale will be forever remembered for his steadfast loyalty, dependability, and integrity to all who were blessed to know him. He loved spending time with his family, whether at the beach, in the garden, or simply enjoying his home on Lake Wheeler. He loved sports, especially ACC basketball and baseball. However, Gale's greatest pleasure was spending time with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren.

Gale is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Sorrell Winslow, and his parents. He is survived by his daughters, Donna Bennett and her husband Michael of Apex, N.C. , his daughter Karen Bean and her husband David, of Wilson, N.C., and Wendy Kennedy and her husband Chris of Cary, N.C. Lovingly called Dedaddie, he is survived by six grandchildren: Amber Bennett, Morgan Bean, Austin Bean, Chad Bean, Ava Grace, and Mary Elizabeth Kennedy. He is also survived by his younger brother, Dolan Winslow and wife Delores of Linden, N.C.; brother-in-law Carl Sorrell and wife Cleo; sister-in-law JoAnn Hunter and husband Jerry, and many nieces and nephews and extended family members.

Gale will be deeply missed, but we take comfort knowing he is in heaven reunited with his wife.

A special thank you to the many family members, friends, and caregivers, too numerous to name who called, prayed, sent cards and helped in the most special kinds of ways during Gale's recent illness.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 7:30pm on Friday, December 13th at Montlawn Funeral Home. A celebration of Gale's life will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, December 14th at Montlawn Chapel. Entombment will follow at Montlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Gale's name to Hayes Barton Baptist Church Outreach Ministry, 1800 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27608, or a ministry of one's choice.