Lt. Col. David F. Winecoff, Usmc (Ret.)

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, Lt. Col. David F. Winecoff, USMC (Ret.), 83, of Ellensburg, gave up a life he could never keep to take up a new life in Heaven that he can never lose. A memorial service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at the Ellensburg Foursquare Church.  He will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery.

David was born on August 12, 1939 to Joseph & Katherine (Challacombe) Winecoff in Shanghai, China, which is where his father was stationed.  Because of his father’s career as an officer with the United States Marine Corps, the family moved frequently when David was growing up.  Following graduation from high school, he went on to attend the University of Washington where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1962 He later went on to earn his Masters Degree from Pepperdine University in 1977.

In September of 1962, David felt the call to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps, serving three combat tours during the Vietnam War.  As part of his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company H, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on February 21, 1968, then Captain Winecoff was awarded the Silver Star with Valor.  He retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in June of 1983 after serving for nearly 21 years.

David met Karen (Harris) Zimmerman through a mutual friend and they hit it off instantly.  Karen recalls that “from the time I first saw him, I just knew he was the one for me.”  They married on August 6, 2000 and shortly after moved to Ellensburg where they built a home and enjoyed the rural farming life.  They kept a small herd of Belted Galloway cattle, horses, chickens, dogs and whatever else they felt would be fun to raise.

David loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart.  He and Karen went on many mission trips to Mexico and ministered to inmates at local correctional facilities. In addition to his work as a published author on the topic of Christianity, he was a longtime member and chaplain of the VFW Rodeo Post #683 in Kittitas as well as a faithful member of the Ellensburg Foursquare Church. David also enjoyed tennis and golf as a way to stay active.

Words cannot express nor capture the entirety of how amazing David was, nor the impact that he had on others.  Any obituary would be remiss, however, if readers were not reminded of the Holy Scripture from John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  David would want everyone reading to know about the greatness that awaits you in Heaven, if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that if you’re not already a Christian, to look seriously at what Jesus did for us and consider accepting Jesus into your heart and to serve Him.

David is survived by his wife, Karen; children Steven (Natalia) Winecoff, Scott (Shara) Winecoff, Mark (Karen) Winecoff, and Mary (Scott) Dunlap; step-children Mike (Delicia) Bozo, Wendy (Jerry) Ringen, Holly (Jon) Farnsworth, Cristy Cogle, and Heidi (Dan) Quinn, as well as 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and his brothers Steven and Michael.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson Colby Bozo.

Memorial contributions in David’s honor are suggested to the Rodeo VFW Post #683 in Kittitas.

Johnston & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellensburg has been entrusted with caring for Lt. Col. Winecoff and his family.  Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com