Dumbaugh

Mary Winnifred “Winnie” Johnstone Dumbaugh, 86, of Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Butler, passed away Monday after a brave fight against lymphoma.

She was born on Oct. 12, 1928, in Butler.

She was a graduate of Butler High School, Class of 1945, and studied nursing at Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. She received a bachelor's degree in English from Slippery Rock State College in 1961 and a master's degree from Stetson University in 1964.

Winnie's career in teaching high school English and related subjects spanned more than three decades beginning in 1962 at Butler High School followed by three decades at Riverview High School. In retirement, she continued her love of teaching through the “Back to Basics” tutoring program at the Church of the Pines.

An accomplished pianist and soprano, she pursued a life-long interest in choral music. She was a performing member in the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, the Manatee Community College Community Choir, the St. Paul Lutheran Choir and the Church of the Redeemer Choir.

Winnie directed youth choirs at the First English Lutheran Church of Butler for many years. She served on the church council at St. Paul.

As the author of “William Blake's Vision of America,” published in 1971, she was a member of the American Pen Women Association. A supporter of women's educational opportunity, Winnie was an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood Ch. CE. She was an officer of her condominium association's board at the time of her death.

Winnie was preceded in death by her beloved father, Walter P. Johnstone of St. Andrews, Scotland; her mother, Esther M. McCandless Johnstone; her husband, Evan A. Dumbaugh; her granddaughter, Natalie W. Dumbaugh; and her special friend, Herbert Weldon of Southport, England.

She is survived by her siblings, Ruth A. Conklin (Arthur Van) of Sinking Spring and James Johnstone of Irmo, S.C.; her sons, John D. Dumbaugh, Robert E. Dumbaugh, Roy A. Dumbaugh and James W. Dumbaugh; her daughters-in-law, Barbara C. Dumbaugh and Dorothy E. Tuccinardi, both of Sarasota; her grandchildren, Capt. Elizabeth J. Dumbaugh and her spouse, Kate Harris Dumbaugh, Victoria J. Dumbaugh, Robert E. Dumbaugh Jr. and his spouse, Rebecca Dumbaugh, Jeffrey Dumbaugh, Carmen Tuccinardi Phillips, Petty Officer 1st Class Abigail E. Dumbaugh; and her great-grandchildren, Aiyana Dumbaugh, Sara Dumbaugh and Jordan Dumbaugh.

Dumbaugh — A requiem Mass for Mary Winnifred Johnstone Dumbaugh, who died on Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, will be at 1 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota, Fla.Gifts in memory of Winnie Dumbaugh can be made to the Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota, Fla., with the memo “music department.”The Toale Brothers Funeral Homes, Colonial Chapel, Sarasota, is in charge of arrangements.