Mr. Robert Warren Winchell's Obituary
Bob Winchell passed away in the comfort of his home in Alexander City, Alabama.
Born in Longview, WA. to William Charles Winchell and Sadie Corbitt Winchell (née Warren), Bob attended Ephrata High School of Ephrata, WA., Rincon High School of Tucson, Arizona, and graduated with the class of 1964 at Lincoln High School of Seattle, WA.
He attended Olympic College in Bremerton, WA, the University of Washington in Seattle, WA., and completed the B.A. in Education at Seattle Pacific College (now Seattle Pacific University) in 1969. Bob began his teaching and coaching career at Battleground High School of Battleground, Washington, soon opting to return to graduate study at the University of Georgia (Athens), where he completed the master’s in social work in 1976. The State of Washington then hired Bob as a counselor in Juvenile Detention, where he served several years at Green Hill School in Chehalis, Washington, and subsequently at Echo Glen Children’s Center in Snoqualmie.
In 1980, Bob earned a commission as an advocate in the US Air Force, helping families at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas; Moody AFB in Valdosta, Georgia; and Loring AFB in Limestone, Maine. He completed his career at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, retiring with Honorable Discharge at the rank of Captain.
Bob loved travel and sports. He frequented MLB Spring Training camps in Florida and Arizona and fulfilled his dream of visiting all fifty states in the US by voyaging to Hawaii in 2025.
He is preceded in death by his parents (Bill & Sadie Winchell) and survived by his long-time companion Sue Holland of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by his daughters Heidi (Brett) Bundy of Shoreline, WA and Heather (Thomas) Dougherty of Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren Keara Dougherty of Portland, OR., Jürgen Bundy of Shoreline WA., Theo Dougherty of Las Vegas, NV., and Elissa Bundy of Bellingham, WA.
He is also survived by siblings Jeanne Voelker of Shoreline, WA., Diane Winchell of Bothell, WA., Dr. James (Jennifer) Winchell of Walla Walla, WA., and Beverly (Rock) Andrews of Gig Harbor, WA., as well as by his aunt Betsy Sterrenberg of Ocean Shores, WA., and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family extends special thanks to Deb, Jasmine, and all his other caregivers in Alabama. Cremation was performed by Radney Funeral Home of Alexander City, AL.
A Celebration of Life is being planned for Summer 2026 at Lake Roosevelt near Wilbur, WA, where the family spent many summers at their lakeside cabin nestled in the sage and sun of Bob’s beloved Eastern Washington.
Other mourners are invited to extend their condolences verbally, arms outstretched to the sky.
Memories and condolences may be shared at https://www.radneyfuneralhome.com.
Radney Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Robert Warren Winchell.
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