Captain Gordon L. Wineman, USN, passed away September 6, 2019 at the age of ninety-two at his home in Winchester, Virginia. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Captain Wineman served on the USS Valley Forge during much of the Korean War and was Commodore of Destroyer Division 142 as his last sea duty. When he retired from the Navy in September of 1974, he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon and the recipient of numerous medals and awards over the course of his career.
Captain Wineman achieved much in life and is dearly missed. For his granddaughters—Cherise, Ronnie, and Rachel—they will miss his smile and laughter greatly. Although he was known as “Nails” by his men in the Navy, to his granddaughters, Captain Wineman was “Granddaddy”, and they never did see the side of him that would account for his naval moniker. To them, he was soft-spoken, always ready with a smile, and quick to laugh at their jokes. He also had a lovely sense of humor himself, such as announcing at every birthday that he was turning 17 that year. It was a long running and much-loved joke. As children, Cherise remembers Gordon sitting down with his granddaughters when they were visiting and watching cartoons with them. Also during that trip, Ronnie was so happy to be taken out on Lake Serene with Granddaddy and taught how to paddle a canoe. And Rachel recalls how excited she felt to be shown his workshop and how he taught her how to rivet. Gordon was a skilled craftsman, and Cherise still possesses and treasures the furniture Granddaddy made for her, his first grandchild—a crib and rocking horse, a stool, a dresser, and a small table with chairs as well. As adults, Gordon’s granddaughters fondly remember chatting and joking with him over the phone or in his living room when they were lucky enough to be able to visit. They loved to watch him and his loving wife, Anita—their grandmother—verbally spar and tease each other. There were also visits for special occasions such as shortly before Ronnie got married and came to introduce her soon-to-be-wife, Kailee. Gordon was so kind and welcoming of his newest granddaughter. And Rachel was so proud to visit after her graduation from Villanova University, Gordon’s own alma mater and the place where he met Anita. Cherise and Rachel were also able to introduce Gordon to his great-granddaughters—Isabella, Kestrel, and Rosella.
All these memories and so many more are deeply cherished by Cherise, Ronnie, and Rachel. Captain Wineman was a great man with a storied life, and his granddaughters share these reflections to commemorate his life as they knew him and let the world know how much they love and miss their wonderful granddaddy.
