Richard J. Winters, age 72 years, of Delaware Township, NJ, died suddenly on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at his home.

Born in Phillipsburg, NJ, November 24, 1945, son of the late John and Hazel Hart Winters, Richard was a lifelong Hunterdon County, NJ resident, having lived in Flemington, Three Bridges, Ringoes and Delaware Township, NJ over the years.

A 1964 graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School, Flemington, NJ, Richard enlisted in the United States Army in 1965 and served until 1968 whereupon he was honorably discharged for his faithful service. He then served in the United States Army Active Reserves until 1972.

Most know Richard as the hard-working, trustworthy and caring operator of Hunterdon Excavating. For many years he served his community and was involved with many building projects in and around Hunterdon County. It has been said that few could maneuver around and excavate sites the way he was able to; always safely and always in a way to benefit his clients.

Whether fishing, relaxing on the beach, enjoying amusement park rides with his beloved granddaughter, Juliana, swimming, working, essentially whatever he was doing, Richard was most happy as long as he was with his family and friends. They were his life blood and anytime spent with family was time well spent!

He was the go-to guy for most things, as his patient, calm, and caring manner lead him to be able to listen and help anyone. He was the friend to a stranger and a true gentleman in all regards.

Though the last several years contained several medical struggles, Richard never let anything keep him down and his smile was omnipresent. This strength of heart and soul is but one of his lasting gifts to those who loved him.

When speaking of Richard, anyone who knew him will also immediately think of his high-school sweetheart and true soul-mate, his wife of fifty-two years, Virginia Rose Haga Winters. The two met as sophomores at HCRHS; first on a blind-date of which Richard had filled in for his friend who got sick before the evening commenced. That faithful night at the roller rink led to Ginny wearing Richard’s class ring around her neck, to proms, graduations and eventually an engagement. They were married in the Flemington Baptist Church by the late Rev. E. C. Dunbar on September 24, 1965.

Upon Richard’s joining the Army, she promptly moved to Germany to be with him where he was stationed. The success of their marriage, as Ginny states, is that he was the ‘yin’ to her ‘yang’. They truly loved each other and wanted to be married to the other, so nothing would ever get in the way of their happiness and completeness in the other. They simply balanced the other in all regards. Their union produced a daughter and the light of her father’s life, Shannon. Forever, “Daddy’s Little Girl,” Shannon was Richard’s pride and joy and this light would eventually be shared with the next generation, this time to his granddaughter, Juliana, who will forever be, “Poppo’s Little Girl”.

To sum up Richard’s life and his legacy, one need just to read the simple phrase by Michael J. Fox, “Family is not an important thing. It is everything.” Richard loved his family and friends with all his soul and did all he could to just be a, “good person”. The world is not darker because of his death, but rather brighter because he has passed through it and touched so many for the better.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Ana Pados and Dorothy Sheetz; a niece, Cathy Belonsoff; and his orange tabby cat who was with him for more than fifteen years, Max.

Surviving, in addition to his beloved wife, are his daughter and son-in-law, Shannon and Paul Figalora; his granddaughter, Juliana Figalora; his sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Alex Belonsoff; a brother-in-law, Marvin Scheetz; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Barbara and Jerry Stockelberg; many nieces, nephews and extended family; his devoted cat, Jena; and many caring friends.

A Celebration of Richard’s life will take place on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Committal words and burial with military honors in Prospect Hill Cemetery, 69 Capner Street, Flemington, NJ, will follow the Life Celebration Service on Friday.

Richard will lie in repose on Thursday, March 1, 2018 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. and Friday, March 2, 2018 from 10:00-11:00 a.m., all at the funeral home, where family and friends are invited to help celebrate his life and legacy.

Please visit Richard’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com where one can light a memorial candle and leave a message of condolence and words of comfort, as well as share stories and photographs of his life.

In lie of flowers, it is the families request that memorial contributions in Richard’s honor be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned and operated “Life Celebration Home”