Winston was born in Albany, Georgia, to the late Winston Boos Richter, Sr, and Elsa Lee (Neeley) Richter. When he was almost four, the family moved to Spring Hill TN when Daddy Boos became superintendent of the Tennessee Orphan Home. Winston grew up with the children who lived there and remained friends with many of them, continuing to see them regularly. They will miss him, their Indian Chief. Winston loved his big sister Louisa (he called her Deese), who passed away just a year ago. She had watched over and protected him his entire life.
Winston graduated from David Lipscomb College in 1963, with a B.A. in Chemistry and Physics. He married his college sweetheart, Suzanne Looney, at the East Wood Church of Christ on June 14, 1963. They moved to Tallahassee, and in 1966 he received his Master’s degree in Physics. His Ph. D. was awarded from the University of Florida in 1987. Winston spent his professional life as an educator, from 1968 to 1988, beginning in the classroom teaching math and physics and then as an administrator, progressing from department chair to dean and ending as vice president of Advancement at Miami-Dade Community College.
After thirty years, Winston retired and chose to move to Henry County. He loved the people and the land and spent the last twenty-five years enjoying both. He bought a beautiful piece of land, built his home and literally created his own kingdom. He could even shoot from his bathroom window. And with that twinkle in his eye, he did just that! Winston loved to hunt deer, quail, dove, rabbits, and squirrels, always processing what he had killed. His favorite hunting companion was his German short-hair pointer, Hank or Hankster as he would call him. The two of them were inseparable, true boon companions. Winston also loved to fish and fished his entire life, a passion he inherited from his father. A superb swimmer, he had great adventures spearfishing down in the Keys as well as shrimping and lobstering.
Winston enjoyed his Richter nieces, Lee Ann and Lisa, as well as his Looney nieces and nephew, Tara and Aimee, and Mark. He loved watching them grow up, and he was loved as much as he loved them, along with their families and all the great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews! He was also especially close to his cousins Tommy and Kathy Thompson and their children Stephanie, Laura, and Scott, and his brother-in-law Bill and Ann Looney.
Winston was an unusual man who read and studied until the day he unexpectedly passed away. He was a gunsmith, a writer, a woodworker, and a creative photographer; he loved his vegetable garden and his fruit trees and chainsawing and just being on the Tennessee land and in the woods. Winston was an incredible combination of strength and gentleness, layered with wit and Southern charm, and physical grace. He was a gentleman, and he will be missed by all of his family, extended family, friends, and even acquaintances. Winston fought the good fight and finished the race and kept the faith.
The funeral service will be at McEvoy Funeral Home on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., followed by a private family burial in Sulphur Well Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 22nd before the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Wounded Warriors, Paris Henry County Rescue Squad, the Paris Henry County Heritage Center, or the Paris Academy for the Arts.