Windom Lawrence Estes, CDR USN (RET)
May 7, 1928 – Nov 19, 2018
Pebble Beach, California
Windom Lawrence Estes (Win) died at his home in Pebble Beach after a brief illness surrounded by his wife Eleanor and other family members and a lifetime of memories created on the Monterey Peninsula, Massachusetts and throughout the world.
Win was born and raised in Dalton, Massachusetts and showed an early aptitude for engineering and was accepted into the Tufts University Engineering program and the United States Navy "Flying Midshipmen Program." Under this program he attended Tufts University for two years and left for flight school in Pensacola, Florida.
The Navy put his college on hold as part of the military buildup for the Korean War, but he was able to complete his Master's degree in Computer Science from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey-back when punch cards were the only way to communicate.
Win was a career Naval aircraft carrier fighter pilot, one of the most distinguished classes of pilots. He had many tours of duty, including several in Vietnam, taking him around the world. His duties would take him away from his family for a year at a time, leaving Eleanor in charge of 4 very active children.
Win and Eleanor arrived on the Monterey Peninsula in the mid-1950's and except for occasional tours of duty , have made the Peninsula home ever since.
Upon retirement Win began his second career, on which he focused the same degree of passion and excellence that attended his military service. He became a leading collector and restorer of vintage English sports cars and was often seen driving around the Peninsula in cars that he had meticulously restored. His standards of perfection (necessary for a carrier pilot) allowed him to fully restore a car in his garage (paint, mechanical and upholstery), show the car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and walk away with a top prize. He was also a chief judge there for many years, specializing in pre-war sports cars. He made many friends in this endeavor and would lend assistance to many like-minded aficionados on the Peninsula. His cars included many MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars and a 1923 Rolls Royce.
But despite all his accomplishments and successes, his real passion and happiness came from his 68-year marriage to a Southern Belle that he met on a blind date in Mississippi while he was visiting an aunt. That fortuitous meeting led to many years of shared interests in travelling, bike trips at home and in Europe, model trains, skiing and restoring Win's family home in Massachusetts.
Win was always in the midst of a project or two and was very proud of what he was able to accomplish with his hands and mind. He passed on to his children the joy of building and creating. He ran out of time before he ran out of projects.
Win was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and was able to watch every game as his beloved Red Sox became the 2018 World Series Champions.
In addition to Eleanor, Win is survived by 3 children; 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. One son, Chip, preceded him in death,
He will be buried at California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord with Full Military Honors. Service arrangements are pending.
Published in the Monterey Herald Dec. 1, 2018
May 7, 1928 – Nov 19, 2018
Pebble Beach, California
Windom Lawrence Estes (Win) died at his home in Pebble Beach after a brief illness surrounded by his wife Eleanor and other family members and a lifetime of memories created on the Monterey Peninsula, Massachusetts and throughout the world.
Win was born and raised in Dalton, Massachusetts and showed an early aptitude for engineering and was accepted into the Tufts University Engineering program and the United States Navy "Flying Midshipmen Program." Under this program he attended Tufts University for two years and left for flight school in Pensacola, Florida.
The Navy put his college on hold as part of the military buildup for the Korean War, but he was able to complete his Master's degree in Computer Science from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey-back when punch cards were the only way to communicate.
Win was a career Naval aircraft carrier fighter pilot, one of the most distinguished classes of pilots. He had many tours of duty, including several in Vietnam, taking him around the world. His duties would take him away from his family for a year at a time, leaving Eleanor in charge of 4 very active children.
Win and Eleanor arrived on the Monterey Peninsula in the mid-1950's and except for occasional tours of duty , have made the Peninsula home ever since.
Upon retirement Win began his second career, on which he focused the same degree of passion and excellence that attended his military service. He became a leading collector and restorer of vintage English sports cars and was often seen driving around the Peninsula in cars that he had meticulously restored. His standards of perfection (necessary for a carrier pilot) allowed him to fully restore a car in his garage (paint, mechanical and upholstery), show the car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and walk away with a top prize. He was also a chief judge there for many years, specializing in pre-war sports cars. He made many friends in this endeavor and would lend assistance to many like-minded aficionados on the Peninsula. His cars included many MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars and a 1923 Rolls Royce.
But despite all his accomplishments and successes, his real passion and happiness came from his 68-year marriage to a Southern Belle that he met on a blind date in Mississippi while he was visiting an aunt. That fortuitous meeting led to many years of shared interests in travelling, bike trips at home and in Europe, model trains, skiing and restoring Win's family home in Massachusetts.
Win was always in the midst of a project or two and was very proud of what he was able to accomplish with his hands and mind. He passed on to his children the joy of building and creating. He ran out of time before he ran out of projects.
Win was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and was able to watch every game as his beloved Red Sox became the 2018 World Series Champions.
In addition to Eleanor, Win is survived by 3 children; 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. One son, Chip, preceded him in death,
He will be buried at California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord with Full Military Honors. Service arrangements are pending.
Published in the Monterey Herald Dec. 1, 2018
Windom Lawrence Estes, CDR USN (RET)
May 7, 1928 – Nov 19, 2018
Pebble Beach, California
Windom Lawrence Estes (Win) died at his home in Pebble Beach after a brief illness surrounded by his wife Eleanor and other family members and a lifetime of memories created on the Monterey Peninsula, Massachusetts and throughout the world.
Win was born and raised in Dalton, Massachusetts and showed an early aptitude for engineering and was accepted into the Tufts University Engineering program and the United States Navy "Flying Midshipmen Program." Under this program he attended Tufts University for two years and left for flight school in Pensacola, Florida.
The Navy put his college on hold as part of the military buildup for the Korean War, but he was able to complete his Master's degree in Computer Science from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey-back when punch cards were the only way to communicate.
Win was a career Naval aircraft carrier fighter pilot, one of the most distinguished classes of pilots. He had many tours of duty, including several in Vietnam, taking him around the world. His duties would take him away from his family for a year at a time, leaving Eleanor in charge of 4 very active children.
Win and Eleanor arrived on the Monterey Peninsula in the mid-1950's and except for occasional tours of duty , have made the Peninsula home ever since.
Upon retirement Win began his second career, on which he focused the same degree of passion and excellence that attended his military service. He became a leading collector and restorer of vintage English sports cars and was often seen driving around the Peninsula in cars that he had meticulously restored. His standards of perfection (necessary for a carrier pilot) allowed him to fully restore a car in his garage (paint, mechanical and upholstery), show the car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and walk away with a top prize. He was also a chief judge there for many years, specializing in pre-war sports cars. He made many friends in this endeavor and would lend assistance to many like-minded aficionados on the Peninsula. His cars included many MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars and a 1923 Rolls Royce.
But despite all his accomplishments and successes, his real passion and happiness came from his 68-year marriage to a Southern Belle that he met on a blind date in Mississippi while he was visiting an aunt. That fortuitous meeting led to many years of shared interests in travelling, bike trips at home and in Europe, model trains, skiing and restoring Win's family home in Massachusetts.
Win was always in the midst of a project or two and was very proud of what he was able to accomplish with his hands and mind. He passed on to his children the joy of building and creating. He ran out of time before he ran out of projects.
Win was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and was able to watch every game as his beloved Red Sox became the 2018 World Series Champions.
In addition to Eleanor, Win is survived by 3 children; 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. One son, Chip, preceded him in death,
He will be buried at California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord with Full Military Honors. Service arrangements are pending.
Published in the Monterey Herald Dec. 1, 2018
May 7, 1928 – Nov 19, 2018
Pebble Beach, California
Windom Lawrence Estes (Win) died at his home in Pebble Beach after a brief illness surrounded by his wife Eleanor and other family members and a lifetime of memories created on the Monterey Peninsula, Massachusetts and throughout the world.
Win was born and raised in Dalton, Massachusetts and showed an early aptitude for engineering and was accepted into the Tufts University Engineering program and the United States Navy "Flying Midshipmen Program." Under this program he attended Tufts University for two years and left for flight school in Pensacola, Florida.
The Navy put his college on hold as part of the military buildup for the Korean War, but he was able to complete his Master's degree in Computer Science from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey-back when punch cards were the only way to communicate.
Win was a career Naval aircraft carrier fighter pilot, one of the most distinguished classes of pilots. He had many tours of duty, including several in Vietnam, taking him around the world. His duties would take him away from his family for a year at a time, leaving Eleanor in charge of 4 very active children.
Win and Eleanor arrived on the Monterey Peninsula in the mid-1950's and except for occasional tours of duty , have made the Peninsula home ever since.
Upon retirement Win began his second career, on which he focused the same degree of passion and excellence that attended his military service. He became a leading collector and restorer of vintage English sports cars and was often seen driving around the Peninsula in cars that he had meticulously restored. His standards of perfection (necessary for a carrier pilot) allowed him to fully restore a car in his garage (paint, mechanical and upholstery), show the car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and walk away with a top prize. He was also a chief judge there for many years, specializing in pre-war sports cars. He made many friends in this endeavor and would lend assistance to many like-minded aficionados on the Peninsula. His cars included many MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars and a 1923 Rolls Royce.
But despite all his accomplishments and successes, his real passion and happiness came from his 68-year marriage to a Southern Belle that he met on a blind date in Mississippi while he was visiting an aunt. That fortuitous meeting led to many years of shared interests in travelling, bike trips at home and in Europe, model trains, skiing and restoring Win's family home in Massachusetts.
Win was always in the midst of a project or two and was very proud of what he was able to accomplish with his hands and mind. He passed on to his children the joy of building and creating. He ran out of time before he ran out of projects.
Win was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and was able to watch every game as his beloved Red Sox became the 2018 World Series Champions.
In addition to Eleanor, Win is survived by 3 children; 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. One son, Chip, preceded him in death,
He will be buried at California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord with Full Military Honors. Service arrangements are pending.
Published in the Monterey Herald Dec. 1, 2018
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