The Walworthians: Winifred Pease

The Walworthians

A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209

by Kate Chamberlin

Winifred K. Pease

April 01, 1999

Winifred K. Pease is a quiet, faithful woman and one of the people in our neighborhood. She was recently honored by the United Methodist Church of Walworth as their Volunteer Lay-person of the Year.

Each Methodist church in the Rochester District elects one of its members to receive the honor and be recognized during a special banquet. The first recipient from the United Methodist Church of Walworth was Helen Schultz, followed by Bernie Porray, Gerry Lonneville and Jessie Keymel (1998).

In a tribute her church put together to honor her during the banquet, Dorothy Secora said: “Winnie is a quiet, faithful woman who leads others to Jesus.”

When I asked Pastor Anne O’Connor to tell me about Winnie, she said, “I second the tribute to Winnie being a quiet woman of faith.”

Gerry Lonneville, the church secretary, said, “She is one of our most, dedicated and faithful members. She’s a real worker!”

It’s not hard to see why Winnie Pease was elected to receive the award this year. Among the many offices and activities she has experienced during her 41 year membership in the Walworth congregation are: financial secretary; church Treasurer for 25 years; Administrator of the Executive Council for 12 years; participates in the choir, the United Methodist Women’s Society and the Couples Class.

Her professional career as a teacher includes four years of teaching in Nunda, nine years of teaching in Webster and then retiring after 16 years of substituting at the Walworth Elementary School.

When Winnie was teaching in Nunda, a colleague invited her home and introduced Winnie to her brother. His name was john and he became Winnie’s husband. Winnie and John have one son, Christopher. He is an LPN and Massage Therapist in Rochester.

Since moving to Walworth in 1958, Winnie agrees there have been many changes in our town.

“When we moved here, it was a rural, farming community,” she said. “We could see more and more people coming, especially with Gananda and Xerox. Just on my street alone, there is only one family still here from when we moved in.”

“I guess it’s the changing of the guard,” she said a bit philosophically. “The old guard dies off and the new moves in.”

She noted that when they moved in Brockman’s Grocery was in town, the Fire Hall was at the foot of Orchard Street, the Grange still owned their building and even had meetings upstairs, the Post Office was on the corner of Main Street and Walworth-Marion Road. The Walworth Hardware Store was Jack Wick’s and next to it was Youngman’s Variety Store complete with a soda fountain.

“People move here for the rural atmosphere,” Winnie said. “I think the town is doing a good job of trying to preserve green spaces, so we can all enjoy our rural community.”

Winnie isn’t real excited about the architecture of the new Walworth Town Hall, but thinks having one place for the library, town offices, police and other organizations is a good idea. She sees where having a family oriented YMCA, too, would complement the active recreation program we already have.

Thank you, Winnie, with all of your varied interests from church activities, to teaching, to Concerts in the Park and community evolvement, you are truly a Walworthian with the accent on worth.

2018 Up-Date:

Winifred Adele (Knight) Pease

“Winnie”

Walworth: 9/3/16, 95. Peacefully at home after a short stint with pancreatic cancer. Born at home 6/9/21 in Cato, N.Y. to Dr. Harold Fuller & Cora Carter Knight. Predeceased by her husband, John Norwood Pease, parents, formerly of 200 Brooks Avenue, Rochester, N.Y., brother Dr. Harold Fuller Knight, Jr., nephew Harold Christopher Knight, sister Millicent Roberta Wickman. Survived by son Christopher John, 59, of Walworth, N.Y., 11 nieces & nephews, several grand & great-grand nieces & nephews, special great-grandniece lmara Elizabeth Stevenson, 5, of Madagascar Island, E.A., cousins, and close cousin Lucille Heck of Alton, N.Y. #37 school, West High ’39, Geneseo State Teacher’s College ’43. Arethusa Sorority. Taught in Nunda, Webster & Wayne Central schools, retiring in 1982. 58 year member Walworth United Methodist Church, serving over the years as secretary, treasurer, and alto section choir member. Gifted pianist & organist. Active member of Women’s Society (famous for her pies!), and was Aldersgate class’s Sunshine Lady until July. Winnie & John enjoyed travelling together and separately. After John’s death in 2005, she was a frequent traveler up until she turned 93.

Winnie’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 24th, at 1 P.M. at the W.U.M.C., corner Main & Church streets, Walworth, with Pastor Jaque Ruth officiating. Reception to follow in the Friendship Room. At Winnie’s specific request, in lieu of flowers please donate in her name to either the Arethusa Sorority, Gamma Chapter, State University of New York, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, N.Y. 14454, or the W.U.M.C. Furnace Fund, 3679 Main Street, Walworth, N.Y. 14568. Cremainment at the convenience of the family this summer Springbrook Cemetery, Sterling, N.Y. Arrangements entrusted to Steven’s Funeral Home, Marion, N.Y.

Published in Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on Sept. 18, 2016