Obituaries

Thomas R. Winpenny, III, 75

February 08, 2017

Thomas R. Winpenny, III, died unexpectedly at home on February 8th, 2017. He was 75 years old.
Tom was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1941. He graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s in History. He married Marilyn Sims in 1967 and returned to school to earn his PhD from the Hagley Program at the University of Delaware. He taught American history at Elizabethtown College from 1968 until his retirement in 2014. He took particular joy in advising his students. After retirement he continued to lecture at the Pathways Institute at Landis Homes.
He attended Westminster Presbyterian Church. During his career he was a member of the Wheatland Board. He served as an associate editor at Lancaster County Historical. He also served as the President of the Cliosophic Society. He is the author of four books, most notably “The Manhattan Bridge: The Troubled Story of a New York Monument” and many articles.
He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Marilyn; a sister, Bessie Ann Lederer of Jenkintown, PA; a son, Reese and his wife Marites of Baltimore, MD; a daughter, Audrey of Santurce, Puerto Rico; and his surrogate grandchildren Jesa, A.J. and Azzie García of Lancaster.
Funeral Services for Tom will be held at 11AM, Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601. Family and friends will be received for a visitation from 9:30AM until the start of the service. Interment will take place in Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Tom’s name may be made to: Water Street Mission – Wonder Club, 210 S. Prince St., Lancaster, PA 17603.

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Condolences to the Family

July 29, 2023

I am a graduate student at the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture at the University of Delaware,  and I am using Dr. Winpenny’s research for an upcoming presentation on tall clocks in nineteenth century America. I searched him up after finding his work and was upset to learn of his unexpected passing. Please know that students like myself continue to cite him and his insightful analyses of objects, history, and place-making. His brilliant contributions to the field are still actively shaping the way that we learn. All my best.
Rebecca Lo Presti

July 11, 2020

I’m sorry to find out about your passing. In our research on the historical heritage of Brazilian railways, it led to a process that would go against the bulk of his research. We were looking forward to contacting you. rest in peace and may God always comfort your family.
Professor Rafael Rodrigues de Moraes

August 25, 2017

So sorry to hear about Tom, Marilyn, Audrey, and Reese. It brought back so many memories of our youth, playing ball, going to youth group, imagining our lives, and then going on to live them. We didn’t see each other much over the past couple of decades, but nothing can take away the cherished memories of our youth. And he is indelibly etched into my formative years. I feel very sad for his passing, but thank him for his friendship during our formative years.
Walt Wolfram
 

March 01, 2017

As a member of the publications committee of LancasterHisory.org, I had the pleasure of getting to know Tom. He always impressed with his wit and delightful humor. He had a highly curious intellect, and I was impressed with the depth of his knowledge on a wide variety of subjects. He left a wonderful legacy as a teacher, historian, and writer. I will miss him.
I extend my sincere sympathy to his wife, Marilyn and his family.
Nikitas (“Nik”) Zervanos, MD

February 22, 2017

Dear Marilyn, Reese and Audry,
Tom was a great guy and I loved his sense of humor whenever I had the chance to talk with him.  I can still remember those hot summer evenings when we gathered to play rec softball at Neffsville Park.  Tom loved playing 1st base for the Superjocks and being part of the team that featured quite a few educators.  Tom loved a good conversation and our recent talks in the Giant Supermarket were very informative.  I’m certain he will be missed by all who knew him.  Our family’s sympathy is with your family in these stressful times.  We send our love, thoughts and prayers.
Larry and Carol Woods and Family

February 20, 2017

To Marilyn, Reese and Audry,
Tom was a long time friento Suzie and me, originally from days at First United Methodist Church in Lancaster.  Tom was a most interesting person to talk with on almost any topic.  He began his time at E-town college the year I graduated, so I did not have the opportunity to take any classes under him.  Nevertheless, our friendship from church was most warm.  Tom could talk your ear off, but always with interesting conversation.  My last conversation with Tom and Marilyn was actually in the swimming pool at Skyline park in Manheim Township.  My2 sons also joined in the conversation…they too enjoyed talking with Tom.  The community will miss this gentle engaging man.  Our prayers are with the family as they recover from the shock of Tom’s passing.  We will miss you very much Tom.  Rest in peace, brother, and in the presence of God.
Gary and Suzie Johnson

February 16, 2017

Dr Winpenny was an awesome teacher–he took the time to talk to you and in my case, helped me personally, my condolences to the family.  My first meeting with Mr. Winpenny was before he was married, I had just come from Wales (3 years) in Feb 1965 & was in his American History class @ Springfield HS Montgomery County Pa; I remember in class he said something to the effect of ‘some of you act like you have just gotten off the boat’….and I whispered, ‘some of us just did’!  He heard it & laughed, and we all laughed.  He had a great, dry sense of humor, he was a superb teacher.   When E-town brought me to see a basketball game, trying to get me there for soccer, there was ‘Mr. Winpenny’…he took the time to talk to me, and said I would love E-town, and I did!!  Saw him at a couple of Alumni Days….always the gentleman, we always spoke.   Just wanted you to know that he meant a lot to me and helped me in many ways outside of education (although he did give me  A’s in his classes @ Springfield & E-Town), I am sure that there are many other people that also thought very highly Dr. Winpenny, just wanted you to know that I am one of those people.
David Holcomb  STHS  1967  E-Town 1971

February 14, 2017

I am saddened to hear the passing of Dr. Winpenny. I greatly enjoyed his classes at Etown and seeing him around Lancaster.
Keith Greenawalt ’03

February 14, 2017

Dear Marilyn and Family,  We are so very sorry to hear of Tom’s passing.  It was a great pleasure to know him.  Our very best to all of you.   Alace and Jim Humphreville

February 14, 2017

Dear Winpenny family, it was with great sadness I learned of Tom’s passing. I will miss the conversations we had on local history and the compassion and intellectual acuity that he brought to so many issues. Death and life are inseparable. Our loved ones are only gone physically, in our memories they are immortal. My sincere condolences, Leroy T. Hopkins

February 13, 2017

Mrs. Winpenny
We are sorry for your loss. We want you to know that we are both praying for you and your family for comfort and strengh during this time. We think of you and Mr. Winpenny quite often with lots of good memories.
May God bless you and your family.  Turk and Cindy Tangert

February 13, 2017

To the Winpenny Family and Jesa, A.J., and Azzie, 
I am sorry to hear about your loss. I am praying for you during this time and hope that your wonderful memories of him bring you comfort. Much love to you!
Kristal Miller (Mrs. Miller) 

February 13, 2017

Always enjoyed his time at the JCC pool….. He will be missed by so many!!!!!!
 
Kym Yeager
JCC Pool

February 13, 2017

I was saddened to learn of the death of Professor Winpenny.  I valued his advice and counsel during my years as a student at Elizabethtown College.  He was a positive influence in my life and with his guidance entered into a career that most suited my personality and temperment.  Esther Vorhauer E-town class of 1982

February 13, 2017

Dear Marilyn and Family,
I am saddened to hear about your loss and wanted you to know I have fond memories of Tom.
Marilyn, I sensed you 2 were kindred spirits and your love of people and of learning made you such caring and empathetic folks. The few times I was with Tom, I became impressed with his warmth and his intelligence and also enjoyed his wit and humor. I know you and your family will have cherished memories to comfort you. I send my love.
Connie Fike, Your IU cohort

February 13, 2017

We are so saddened to hear of Tom’s passing.  Sincere sympathy to Marilyn, Reese and Audrey.  We have many fond memories of our “younger years” with our children and good times at St Paul’s and at our homes.  May God Bless you and comfort you as you go through these days and weeks without Tom.  Dianne and Lanny Nesbitt

February 12, 2017

Dr Winpenny was a role model and mentor for every student at Elizabethtown – Scot A Pitzer, Class of 2004

February 12, 2017

Our sincere sympathy to Marilyn, Reese, Audrey and families. We so enjoyed our occasional meetings with Tom and Marilyn while out and about in Lancaster. Tom would always have the latest news on the most recent happenings at Elizabethtown College. An institution he was so proud to be part of and where he spent many years teaching and sharing his wealth of knowledge with so many students, two of which were our son and daughter. He will be truly missed by all that were fortunate enough to have known him. May he rest in peace. 
Frank and Cindy Zimmerman

February 12, 2017

Tom was a valued colleague at Elizabethtown College.  He was a mentor to me and provided a valuable perspective on many issues taking place at the college.  We spent many hours discussing Big Five basketball since I was a Penn grad.  Tom made a huge difference in thousands of students’ lives as well as many faculty and staff.  You will be missed but not forgotten.
Jon Coren

February 12, 2017

My sincere sympathy to Marilyn, Reese and Audrey. Tom was an amazing person and I always enjoyed talking Penn State football as well as the glory years of the Big 5 Philly basketball. He was so knowledgeable on so many topics. But more importantly, he was a wonderful person who was a devoted husband and father. He had a heart of gold. May you rest in peace Tom.

February 12, 2017

My condolences to the family.  I was a student of the Professor in 1982.  He was passionate, incredibly intelligent, and obviously cared about all of his students.  He passed so much knowledge and passion on to all of us over the years, he lives on in the thousands of people he positively influenced.  Michael D. Hess, Esq.

February 12, 2017

Dear Marilyn,
I offer my deepest sympathy to you and your family.  Tom and I had great conversations at Universal AC and enjoyable emails.  I shall miss him.
My Our Lord comfort you and your family.
Paul Benos

Visitation
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Westminster Presbyterian Church
2151 Oregon Pike
Lancaster, PA 17601
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Services
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Westminster Presbyterian Church
2151 Oregon Pike
Lancaster, PA 17601
Map and Directions

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