R.L. Winters, MD

 Richard Lee Winters, MD, went to be with his Lord 6, October, 2020 in Poteau, Oklahoma.  “Dick” was born November 12, 1926 in McAlester, Oklahoma to Marion Palestine and Ina Eudora (Perry) Winters.

After serving as a medic in the U.S. Army, Infantry (Sgt.) from 1944-1946, Dick returned to Oklahoma to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.  While studying at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, he met Joyce Yvonne Creamer and they were married July 7, 1951 at the First Christian Church in Durant.  They celebrated 60 years of marriage together.

            Dick received his MD from the University of Oklahoma in 1953 where he was a charter member of the AOA Honor Medical Society.  He graduated third in a class of eighty and went on to finish his internship at Denver General Hospital in 1954 and a surgical residency at Oklahoma City Veterans Administration Hospital in 1955.  Dick then joined the Lowrey-Cunningham Medical Clinic in Poteau and in 1976 completed construction on the Leflore County Medical Center with associates Charles Cook, Robert Hampton, Greg Williams and Robert Kiess.

            Dick was known to be a skilled and caring physician who gave back to his State and Community.  Notably, he was Past President of the OK State Board of Medical Examiners (signing his son Richard Bruce Winters, MD medical license) and Past President of the Leflore-Haskell Counties Medical Association.  Dick was a Delegate and Trustee of the OK State Medical Association (1975-1989) and Trustee of the OU School of Medicine Alumni Association (1986-1989), mentoring over 200 medical students, five of whom returned to practice with him.  Dick was the Oklahoma Academy Family Physician of the Year in 1989 and was Top 5 nationally.

            Dick was a faithful Member and Elder of the First Christian Church in Poteau.  He opened the Christian Free Clinic in 1988 and was Medical Director, providing medical care for over 20 years.  Dick was the first physician in Oklahoma to have a volunteer medical license.  The clinic became a central volunteer point for churches and organizations in Poteau, providing health care for thousands who couldn’t afford it.  Dick also served Poteau as Past President of the Christian Business Men’s Committee (member 40 years), Past President of the Eastern Oklahoma Historical Society, Past President of the Kiwanis Club and as a member of the Poteau Chamber of Commerce, Masonic Lodge, Oklahoma Anthropological Society and Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association.  He was a strong supporter of Carl Albert State College, the Boy Scouts of America and the Poteau area Arts and Humanities Council.  He received the Poteau Daily News Man of the Year Award in 1997.

            Dick retired from medicine in 2001.  He married Glynda Ellman Winters in 2015.  He was recognized in 2018 by the Oklahoma Family Practice Association for service as an Outstanding Private Practice Physician. A third generation of Winters as MD’s continues with grandson Richard Drew Winters and wife Hannah earning their Medical degrees in May, 2019.

            Dick was preceded in death by his wife Joyce Creamer Winters and a brother and sister-in-law, Mark Perry and Ray Don (Tomlinson) Winters.

            Survivors include his wife Glynda of the home; and his three children and their spouses: Richard Bruce, MD and Jeanne (Fiely) Winters of Edmond, Ok; Cynthia Rebecca (Winters) and Charles Gilmore of Norman, OK and Mark Creamer and Elizabeth (Papesch) Winters of Flower Mound, Texas.  Dick and Joyce enjoyed Seven Grandchildren:  Cassie Williams (Kevin), Charles Gilmore II (Marli), Richard Drew Winters (Hannah), Benjamin Winters (Megan), Austin Winters, Blake Winters and Carson Winters.  Two great-grandchildren, Luke Williams and Charles Gilmore III were born 2015 and 2018.

 

Out of an abundance of caution for health and wellbeing, a private service for immediate family will be held Monday, October 12^th at Oakland Cemetery, Poteau, OK. Pallbearers will be Dick’s Grandsons.  A register book will be available to sign at the Evans-Miller Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13^th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104 or First Christian Church, PO Box 160, Poteau OK 74953.