Born on August 14, 1937 at Coldman’s Hospital on the West side of Indianapolis, Robert was the first of two sons for Bruce and Marjorie Winter. John was born five years later.

Bruce worked at a hosiery factory while Marjorie worked for the telephone company. Though times were difficult living on the East side, Bobby and Johnny had toys and candy as children during the War, thanks to being spoiled by their Aunt Mary. Bobby played with children that lived across the street. One of those little girls, Madonna Roberts, would later become is high school sweet heart and wife in 1957.

During 8 years in the Army and another 8 years in the National Guard, Bob and Donna were raising their son’s, Steven James, born in 1958, Jeffrey Warren, born in 1962, and Douglas Ray, born in 1964. Still living on the East side, the Winter family became very involved with the Warren Township Fire Department. Bob was a volunteer and later held the office of Captain for 15 years. Donna was involved with the Ladies Auxiliary and served drinks to the firemen at “working” fires during extreme weather conditions. In 1971, Kimberly Sue was born, and she too was climbing on fire trucks before she could talk. Bob devoted 27 years to the fire department. It was his passion! He published a monthly newsletter, helped at charity events, held many offices and made many friends. Bob and Donna enjoyed hosting many cookouts and “poker parties” for their firefighter friends and family members.

Bob later became a dispatcher for Rural Fire before 9-1-1 was implemented. He was a Marion County Special Deputy, worked private security jobs, was a pipe insulator, and still went to fight fires whenever the bell would ring next to his bed at home! After all of that, Bob and Donna would attend fire conventions each summer throughout the state.

Bob loved to travel! He, Donna and Kimmy took several exciting vacations that had them climbing through submarines in Massachusetts, exploring Cadillac Mountain in Maine, camping in Yellowstone National Park, pulling slot machines levers in Las Vegas, and strolling along Bourbon Street. He was the happiest when he was behind the wheel. The idea was to drive until he got tired, never knowing what city we would sleep in that night! What an adventurer!

One thing that you should know about Bob was that he loved dogs! Of, course, being a firefighter, he had several Dalmatians (Duchess and Princess), a Black lab named Shadow, a Beagle mix named Buzz and German Shepherd mix named Jiffy. Jiffy stayed with Kimmy after he and Donna sold there house on Chris Drive and moved into an apartment. They would always come to visit, bringing toys and cheeseburgers, for Jiffy of course.

Bob was a large man, he had to be, his heart was so big! He loved his family and enjoyed the holidays with Donna’s 7 sisters and 1 brother and all of their children in the same old house on the same old street where they fell in love. In 2003, the house became available and Bob and Donna returned to where their story began. This little house, where for the past 50 years, the large family spent every Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Easter Sunday. The entire family will always cherish memories of Bob hiding an Easter egg each year that everyone hunted and hunted for. 85 adults and children stumbled about the yard, begging for clues as he sat in the front porch with his devilish grin. As we said good-bye to Bob at his funeral, his brother-in-law, Charles “Skeeter” Thompson gave him a green Easter egg to take with him to heaven. Once we are all reunited, we will have a wonderful time hunting amongst the clouds for this Easter egg. And knowing my dad, Bob, he will have painted the egg white to blend in, so we’ll never find it!

See you soon daddy!
Kimmy (Winter) Dean