Winnetka Elizabeth Perry Passons was a true daughter of Texas. From a young woman who picked cotton in the fields of Lewisville, to winning a Bonnie and Clyde pistol shooting contest at a young age, to being an Army wife who held her family together after WWII in Japan, and finally coming back to Texas to raise her family in a newly settled town called Shady Shores.
Born on June 26, 1924, in Richardson, TX. to Velma and John L. Perry. She cared for her two younger brothers while her parents worked in the fields. Winnetka was raised by her Aunt Mattie who introduced her to, Marion Monroe "Bud" Passons, whom she married in July 22, 1941. She had two children, a daughter and a son. Winnetka Passons was anything but ordinary. She is the matriarch of the Passons family in Texas and led by strong will, determination and the refusal to back down in the worst of circumstances.
On December 7, 1941 she listened to the attack on Pearl Harbor as she quietly watched her husband don his uniform and walk from their home at Ft. Sam Houston, TX to his respected unit. Bud's military commitments took him to Japan, post WWII. Winnetka packed herself up and took a one month sea voyage to Japan to be with her husband while she was 8 months pregnant with their daughter. When they completed their tour in Japan there was no doubt that they would come back home to Texas. They settled in what is now known as Shady Shores. 60 years later, Winnetka's experience as a military wife allowed her to comfort her own granddaughter, who was stationed in Germany with her Army husband, after the September 11th attacks.
Carrying on with her pioneering spirit, Winnetka went to work at Texas Instruments where she grew and sliced the crystals that made transistors. She retired in 1982 after 28 years of service to the company. In 1988, Winnetka was diagnosed and beat stage 4 Breast Cancer, making her one of the longest living survivors from her diagnosis and time. This survivor-ship she honorably passed on to the women in her family. At the age of 72, Winnetka started a new company and began making porcelain dolls. She was recognized with many awards and newspapers articles on her amazing talent. Of all her accomplishments, her dolls, her "babies", are her legacy.
Throughout her years Winnetka showed the women and men of her family that true strength is not from surviving, but the definitive features of never giving up. She out-ran a tornado, survived droughts, floods, the great depression, raised her family during several wars, saw her husband and son go off to war and watched her daughter succeed in fields dominated by men. After leading this extraordinary life, she continued to defy the odds by living 15 years longer than the doctors predicted. She surprised the doctors by rebounding five times after the doctor told the family to make her funeral arrangements. So, it is not surprising that Winnetka had to be pronounced dead, ... twice at her passing!
Winnetka Passons is survived by her daughter and son, and their spouses, 3 Granddaughters, 1 Great Grandson, and 3 Great Granddaughters.
Her legacy continues on as an inspiration to all military spouses, cancer survivors, and passionate pioneers for life.
Born on June 26, 1924, in Richardson, TX. to Velma and John L. Perry. She cared for her two younger brothers while her parents worked in the fields. Winnetka was raised by her Aunt Mattie who introduced her to, Marion Monroe "Bud" Passons, whom she married in July 22, 1941. She had two children, a daughter and a son. Winnetka Passons was anything but ordinary. She is the matriarch of the Passons family in Texas and led by strong will, determination and the refusal to back down in the worst of circumstances.
On December 7, 1941 she listened to the attack on Pearl Harbor as she quietly watched her husband don his uniform and walk from their home at Ft. Sam Houston, TX to his respected unit. Bud's military commitments took him to Japan, post WWII. Winnetka packed herself up and took a one month sea voyage to Japan to be with her husband while she was 8 months pregnant with their daughter. When they completed their tour in Japan there was no doubt that they would come back home to Texas. They settled in what is now known as Shady Shores. 60 years later, Winnetka's experience as a military wife allowed her to comfort her own granddaughter, who was stationed in Germany with her Army husband, after the September 11th attacks.
Carrying on with her pioneering spirit, Winnetka went to work at Texas Instruments where she grew and sliced the crystals that made transistors. She retired in 1982 after 28 years of service to the company. In 1988, Winnetka was diagnosed and beat stage 4 Breast Cancer, making her one of the longest living survivors from her diagnosis and time. This survivor-ship she honorably passed on to the women in her family. At the age of 72, Winnetka started a new company and began making porcelain dolls. She was recognized with many awards and newspapers articles on her amazing talent. Of all her accomplishments, her dolls, her "babies", are her legacy.
Throughout her years Winnetka showed the women and men of her family that true strength is not from surviving, but the definitive features of never giving up. She out-ran a tornado, survived droughts, floods, the great depression, raised her family during several wars, saw her husband and son go off to war and watched her daughter succeed in fields dominated by men. After leading this extraordinary life, she continued to defy the odds by living 15 years longer than the doctors predicted. She surprised the doctors by rebounding five times after the doctor told the family to make her funeral arrangements. So, it is not surprising that Winnetka had to be pronounced dead, ... twice at her passing!
Winnetka Passons is survived by her daughter and son, and their spouses, 3 Granddaughters, 1 Great Grandson, and 3 Great Granddaughters.
Her legacy continues on as an inspiration to all military spouses, cancer survivors, and passionate pioneers for life.
Winnetka Elizabeth Perry Passons was a true daughter of Texas. From a young woman who picked cotton in the fields of Lewisville, to winning a Bonnie and Clyde pistol shooting contest at a young age, to being an Army wife who held her family together after WWII in Japan, and finally coming back to Texas to raise her family in a newly settled town called Shady Shores.
Born on June 26, 1924, in Richardson, TX. to Velma and John L. Perry. She cared for her two younger brothers while her parents worked in the fields. Winnetka was raised by her Aunt Mattie who introduced her to, Marion Monroe "Bud" Passons, whom she married in July 22, 1941. She had two children, a daughter and a son. Winnetka Passons was anything but ordinary. She is the matriarch of the Passons family in Texas and led by strong will, determination and the refusal to back down in the worst of circumstances.
On December 7, 1941 she listened to the attack on Pearl Harbor as she quietly watched her husband don his uniform and walk from their home at Ft. Sam Houston, TX to his respected unit. Bud's military commitments took him to Japan, post WWII. Winnetka packed herself up and took a one month sea voyage to Japan to be with her husband while she was 8 months pregnant with their daughter. When they completed their tour in Japan there was no doubt that they would come back home to Texas. They settled in what is now known as Shady Shores. 60 years later, Winnetka's experience as a military wife allowed her to comfort her own granddaughter, who was stationed in Germany with her Army husband, after the September 11th attacks.
Carrying on with her pioneering spirit, Winnetka went to work at Texas Instruments where she grew and sliced the crystals that made transistors. She retired in 1982 after 28 years of service to the company. In 1988, Winnetka was diagnosed and beat stage 4 Breast Cancer, making her one of the longest living survivors from her diagnosis and time. This survivor-ship she honorably passed on to the women in her family. At the age of 72, Winnetka started a new company and began making porcelain dolls. She was recognized with many awards and newspapers articles on her amazing talent. Of all her accomplishments, her dolls, her "babies", are her legacy.
Throughout her years Winnetka showed the women and men of her family that true strength is not from surviving, but the definitive features of never giving up. She out-ran a tornado, survived droughts, floods, the great depression, raised her family during several wars, saw her husband and son go off to war and watched her daughter succeed in fields dominated by men. After leading this extraordinary life, she continued to defy the odds by living 15 years longer than the doctors predicted. She surprised the doctors by rebounding five times after the doctor told the family to make her funeral arrangements. So, it is not surprising that Winnetka had to be pronounced dead, ... twice at her passing!
Winnetka Passons is survived by her daughter and son, and their spouses, 3 Granddaughters, 1 Great Grandson, and 3 Great Granddaughters.
Her legacy continues on as an inspiration to all military spouses, cancer survivors, and passionate pioneers for life.
Born on June 26, 1924, in Richardson, TX. to Velma and John L. Perry. She cared for her two younger brothers while her parents worked in the fields. Winnetka was raised by her Aunt Mattie who introduced her to, Marion Monroe "Bud" Passons, whom she married in July 22, 1941. She had two children, a daughter and a son. Winnetka Passons was anything but ordinary. She is the matriarch of the Passons family in Texas and led by strong will, determination and the refusal to back down in the worst of circumstances.
On December 7, 1941 she listened to the attack on Pearl Harbor as she quietly watched her husband don his uniform and walk from their home at Ft. Sam Houston, TX to his respected unit. Bud's military commitments took him to Japan, post WWII. Winnetka packed herself up and took a one month sea voyage to Japan to be with her husband while she was 8 months pregnant with their daughter. When they completed their tour in Japan there was no doubt that they would come back home to Texas. They settled in what is now known as Shady Shores. 60 years later, Winnetka's experience as a military wife allowed her to comfort her own granddaughter, who was stationed in Germany with her Army husband, after the September 11th attacks.
Carrying on with her pioneering spirit, Winnetka went to work at Texas Instruments where she grew and sliced the crystals that made transistors. She retired in 1982 after 28 years of service to the company. In 1988, Winnetka was diagnosed and beat stage 4 Breast Cancer, making her one of the longest living survivors from her diagnosis and time. This survivor-ship she honorably passed on to the women in her family. At the age of 72, Winnetka started a new company and began making porcelain dolls. She was recognized with many awards and newspapers articles on her amazing talent. Of all her accomplishments, her dolls, her "babies", are her legacy.
Throughout her years Winnetka showed the women and men of her family that true strength is not from surviving, but the definitive features of never giving up. She out-ran a tornado, survived droughts, floods, the great depression, raised her family during several wars, saw her husband and son go off to war and watched her daughter succeed in fields dominated by men. After leading this extraordinary life, she continued to defy the odds by living 15 years longer than the doctors predicted. She surprised the doctors by rebounding five times after the doctor told the family to make her funeral arrangements. So, it is not surprising that Winnetka had to be pronounced dead, ... twice at her passing!
Winnetka Passons is survived by her daughter and son, and their spouses, 3 Granddaughters, 1 Great Grandson, and 3 Great Granddaughters.
Her legacy continues on as an inspiration to all military spouses, cancer survivors, and passionate pioneers for life.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
