Gary D. Winbourn
Seneca, SC– Gary D. Winbourn, 74, of Seneca, SC. passed peacefully in his sleep on the morning of March 11th following a short time in home hospice care. He was born to Walter Douglas Winbourn and Ruth Dulin Winbourn (Dulin) in Wilmington, Delaware, on October 10, 1950. He grew up and attended school in Aston, Pennsylvania. As a child he would spend time going to the ocean with his father, mother, and sister Sue. They would also visit the Dulin family farms along the Eastern shore of Maryland. He had multiple aunts, uncles and cousins in Maryland. He graduated from Sun Valley High School in 1968 as the sole valedictorian. He was honored to be able to address his classmates. After graduating he attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. In the summer of 1969, Gary and some classmates drove to Bethel, NY to attend the Woodstock music and arts festival.
He married Linda Uhler in February of 1973 and moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota. His marriage to Linda was short. He eventually met his 2nd wife, Margaret D’Amour (Johnsen) and was married in April of 1975. Gary welcomed Margaret’s son from a previous marriage, Jason, by adopting him as his own son. He resumed his college education in January of 1976 attending the University of North Dakota (UND). Later that year Gary’s second son, Brian, was born in October 1976. He received his bachelor’s degree from UND as well as his Masters in Geology. He continued to live in Grand Forks until December of 1981, then moved to Bismarck, ND. In Bismarck he worked as a Hydrogeologist for the Public Planning Commission, Knife River Coal, Braun Intertech, and Huntington/Twin City Testing.
While living in North Dakota, Gary enjoyed the recreation and outdoor activities ND has to offer. He would upland bird hunt in the fall, cross country ski in the winter, and fish / camp in the summers. He also enjoyed playing tennis and cycling. In November of 1983 his family grew again with the birth of his daughter Alyssa. Having three children kept him busy with their activities of taekwondo, hockey, figure skating, and soccer. Gary and Marge moved to Seneca, SC in the fall of 1996. They bought a house in Central, SC in February of 1997. They separated and divorced in May of 1998.
In November of 2001 Gary married Cheryl Strand. Gary’s love and family grew once again with Cheryl and her daughter Jessica. Gary and Cheryl enjoyed all that the Seneca and Clemson area had to offer. They are strong supporters of Clemson football and had season tickets for many years. They enjoyed game day activities and of course the games. They also enjoyed vacationing together at the beaches of South Carolina and antiquing while at home or on vacation. Gary would talk to his mother Ruth every day in her later years until her passing in September of 2022.
In his time in South Carolina he worked for Sanders Brothers, Taz Mechanical & Contracting, Redox Tech, and A.E. Drilling Service. He retired in June of 2024.
Gary is mourned deeply by a loving family. He was preceded in death by his father: Doug; mother: Ruth; and granddaughter: Greer Winnie Brown. Surviving relatives are wife: Cheryl Winbourn of Seneca, SC; sister: Sue Scott (Charles) of West Chester, PA; children: Jason Winbourn (Angie) of Greenville, SC, Brian Winbourn of Loveland, CO, Alyssa Brown (Ken) of Windsor, CO, Jessica Wiltgen (Josh) of Seneca, SC; niece: Zoe Scott (Will) of Downingtown, PA.; nephew: Brett Scott (Sarah) of Wyncote, PA; grandchildren: Noah, Holley, and Barrett Winbourn of Loveland, CO, Sofia Winbourn, Greenville SC, Cooper and Haley Wiltgen of Seneca, SC, William “Bo” Wells, and Anna Banks Brown of Windsor, CO.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
The family will hold a drop-in Celebration of Life from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at their residence, 510 Return Church Rd. Seneca, SC 29678.