Winfred Tinsley

Winfred Keith Tinsley, 87 year-old, longtime Seminole resident passed from this life on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 in Seminole, Oklahoma.  He was born September 27, 1921 in Anaheim, California to parents John and Belle Tinsley.  On July 25, 1943 he married Florene Alice Guinn in Little, Oklahoma. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and a member of the Masonic Lodge #833.  He was also the oldest and longest continuous member of the American Legion Huntington Beach Post 133 at 63 years.  Winfred graduated from Huntington Beach Elementary School in 1936 and Huntington Beach Union High School in 1940; while in high school he lettered in track as a hurdler.  After graduation he went to work for Lockheed Manufacturing in Los Angeles, California as a machinist on the Lockheed Hudson Bomber.  With the outbreak of WWII he joined the navy in May of 1942.  After boot camp he was transferred to Norman, Oklahoma where he was part of the opening group of the naval air station.  Before his honorable discharged at San Pedro, California on November 24, 1945 he obtained the rank of Coxswain.  After his discharge he worked for Western American Oil Company in Huntington Beach, California.  In 1950 he began work as a custodian and bus driver for Huntington Beach Elementary School.  He retired from the school district in 1975 as Director of Maintenance and Operation for 13 school sites.  He and his wife, Florene, moved to Seminole, Oklahoma in the summer of 1979.  He was an avid supporter of Seminole athletics as was especially fond of the Seminole girls track team.  He took thousands of pictures during athletic events, which he gladly gave to the athletes. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Jack L. Tinsley and his wife Lajuana of Seminole, Oklahoma, Ronald Tinsley and his wife Marcie of Pagosa Springs, Colorado;two granddaughters, Tera Black and her husband Jamie of Mathews, North Carolina, Alison Tinsley of Seminole, Oklahoma; one grandson, Shane Tinsley and his wife Tara of Shawnee, Oklahoma; great granddaughters, Abbey Tinsley, Rianne Tinsley, Emma Arnold, Haley Black and Cassidy Black; he is also survived by a host of other family and dear friends. Winfred is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, five brothers, two sisters and one granddaughter, Natalie Black. In lieu of flowers the family wishes contributions be made to the Seminole High School girls’ track team in memory of Winfred Tinsley, P.O. Box 1031, Seminole, Oklahoma 74868. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 15, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Seminole.  Dr. Tommy Clark will officiate. Interment will follow at Little Cemetery, north of Seminole. Casket Bearers will be: Kenneth Cannon, Duane Erwin, Jim Cantrell, Robert Foxx, Kay Dotson and Herman Ritchie. Honorary Bearers will be: Cecil Sullivan and the Adult "G" Men's Sunday School Class at Seminole First Baptist Church.   Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home – Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: August 15, 2009, 11:00 AM Seminole First Bapitst Church located at 420 Reid Street, Seminole, OK 74868