Obituary: Wayne Wincey

Wayne Wincey suffered a massive stroke on Saturday, May 11, 2024. As the humid breeze of Florida blew through the air in the early morning of May 15, 2024, with his wife, Ann, by his side, Wayne’s spirit was taken home to heaven.

Wayne was born John Wayne Wincey on September 27, 1945, at Eglin AFB, Florida, to John Westberry Wincey and Mildred Louise Williams Wincey. He graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in 1963 and could not have been prouder to have attended Florida State University, where he met his future wife, Ann, as his genetics lab partner. 

Wayne and Ann married in 1968 at Oakland Presbyterian Church. After four short years, their plan was to be in Winter Garden for the summer and then move to North Carolina so Wayne could sell furniture. Working at 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as a captain was not what the world planned for Wayne. That's where he was, though, and in a short time he was moved to the Contemporary Resort. Walt Disney World and the people of its company became Wayne’s life work.

The Mouse was a 40-year career of ups and downs, but there wasn’t a day that his briefcase, a pot of coffee, a cigarette and his laugh didn’t make someone’s day be filled with magic. All this considered, rest assured, you never wanted to be pulled to the side for a "come to Jesus" meeting with Wayne.

Wayne was an animated storyteller. As a storyteller, he also loved to hear stories. He loved the people who told them and who were in them. He was a lover of the details, the things that made it special. He knew God made everyone special and that everyone had gifts.

Wayne’s gift was his love of communication. He always wanted to know how everyone was doing, especially the ones he has now left behind: wife, Ann; daughter, Beth Ielfield (Ian); bonus granddaughter, Riley; adopted son, Mehmet Emec (Lale); adopted granddaughter, Sophi; sister, Kathy Litzenberger (Ron); brother, Ronald Wincey (Sharon); nieces and nephews, David Litzenberger (Mia), Nathan Wincey (Mallery), Kimberly Pearman (Zach), Jill Zuiderweg (Garrett), Ryan Wincey (Kyndal), John Litzenberger (Cheryl).

Never did you have to guess Wayne’s favorite colors, team or what was his most important past time — FSU Football! For Ann, it’s the game. For Wayne, it’s the event! The event brings together people to make memories and, therefore, you have more stories. Wayne lived his life like every day was an event!

In honor of Wayne, visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2024, at Oakland Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Pilar's Loft.

If preferred, donations can be made to Cornerstone Hospice for the Care Center at Health Central or Oakland Presbyterian Church.