Roger Winton

Roger Winton eulogy by Peter Williams
For many of us here today we enjoyed Roger’s fellowship in so many ways also. I have got to liken Roger to a Boxer who never quits and whose later years brought him to realize and give thanks for the presence of Christ in the boxing ring of life.
The man was small in stature but could pack many an oversized punch shaped by his formative years which began in England. We shared some common experiences from church school education. He went to Holy Trinity near Gravesend and in his case with Nuns as teachers and religious instructors. He loved sports particularly boxing, serving in the Chapel, and sang in the choir. His sisters Susan and Julie featured in his many accounts of life with grandparents close by such as hunting mushrooms while walking in the woods and enjoying Grandma’s cooking.
He later moved to experience some wilderness years away from the church at university and Airforce in Canada in Saskatoon where he served in the reserves. Life had some really tough bouts to fight through and one difficult time of which he spoke was nearly losing his wife, and 4 dogs to a house-fire in Winnipeg. He felt so responsible for the huge impact to recover and repay debts for over the next 13 years and particularly as the birth their son Gordy occurred two weeks after the fire. Roger; being the kind of person he was, would not get knocked down as he fought through adversity.
Roger gave thanks for a Divinity Professor Dr Jennings and one of the Nun’s Sister Riley’s religious instructions to grow in reading the Word and to continue to search for guidance and wisdom. When he looked for a church we were fortunate enough to have he, Nan, and Val join us here at St Peter and St Paul. Roger quickly showed how to be generous and engaging with all he met. He got really connected to Hope for the Hungry when we had started it in 2019. This allowed Roger to show his tenacity to negotiate for turkeys, frozen chickens and all sorts of donations to benefit families in serious need of food. He also gave of his time and his money generously to others by taking home cooked meals to neighbors and friends most weeks, and to Family Promise guests here.
His engagement in our worship services became infectious as he greeted all he knew, welcomed others and connected in sharing his excitement in celebrating communion. Even when he was in a wheelchair and unwell he would make an heroic effort to attend on Sundays inspiring many others by his presence. In Brotherhood of St. Andrew he savored bible study to gain further insights in God’s WORD and participating in opportunities of fellowship where he could share his own stories. I know he encouraged many of you and gave generously to hurting parish members whenever he could.
For me Roger has most recently shown us how to give thanks for so much, and in particular for the ability to keep focused on Christ, knowing we have not been promised a pain free life but God has our backs in the ring of life – in fact he persistently said the phrase “it is what it is, so lets move past life’s difficulties and use each day for the good we have been called to do”. I saw this when he was in hospital stays connecting positively with his nursing staff, or when greeting any visitor to enjoy time chatting, reminiscing and understanding the call to live with grateful and generous hearts. He was so grateful for his daily calls with Tom Duncanson and grettings & love shown to him each service.
Nan, Val and Jim we hope to support you as we all say goodbye to this feisty boxer, classy English Gentleman who always opened doors for others, and a friend who shared generously in many ways, not least of which was in his passion to study and share his life with Christ in this community.
Roger we say thank you for many impressive rounds and goodbye for now! Peter Williams

A special bond between Roger, Tim Swift and Lenny Di Cristofano.