Lonnie Emanuel Winbush, 52, loving father, dedicated son, compassionate brother, abiding friend, has died Feb. 24, 2010 in Palmdale. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. March 6, 2010 at Morning Star Church of God in Christ, 427 North Harrison Avenue in Oxnard.
Lonnie was born on a beautiful day in early fall on Sept. 1, 1957 in Oxnard. He is the fourth child and only son to the late Mr. Lonnie and Missionary Fanolia Winbush. As a small child, Lonnie was raised in the Morning Star Church of God in Christ where he played the guitar, enjoyed Sunday School and participated in the Sunshine Band.
Lonnie is Oxnard homegrown. He attended Juanita and Harrison Elementary Schools. In 1975, he graduated from Oxnard High School where not only he boasted a four-year perfect attendance record, but he excelled in sports, particularly football and track and field where he was the CIF Track Champion. While attending Oxnard H.S., he and lifetime friend Karry Cameron made a pact to attend college together on a sports scholarship. In 1977, Lonnie graduated from Ventura College where he received a dual college sport scholarship in football and track-in-field to Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., joining Karry where they made good on their childhood promise. Upon graduation, he moved from Oregon and settled in Palmdale. He soon married Pauline Gutzwiller where to this union two beautiful children, Cameron Rose and Avery Preston were born.
Lonnie's life work was in the insurance and claims business. He began his career as a Senior Liability Claim Representative with Aetna Life and Casualty and soon advanced to Senior Examiner. Before he passed, Lonnie was a Licensed Agent for Aflac Insurance. For over 20 years, Lonnie built a solid career of staying true to his word and helping those in need of protection and assistance.
And that is exactly the kind of man Lonnie was. A man of integrity who was always there for his children and family until the final days before resting safely in the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and being united with his earthly Father, Lonnie Winbush, Sr. Lonnie will be greatly missed by his mother, Fanolia Winbush of Oxnard; daughter, Cameron Rose; son, Avery Preston; ex-wife, Pauline Winbush of Lancaster; sisters: Faye Dean Winbush of Camarillo, Mary Lonnette Wade (Edward) of Alpharetta, Ga., and Debra Ann of Oxnard; nephews, Dr. Elliot Louis Wade of Las Vegas, Nev., and Patrick Andrew Sargent of Houston, Texas; niece, Leshelle Vernae Sargent of Camarillo; lifelong friends, Karry Cameron of Portland, Ore., Huelon Lyghts of Oxnard, and Jose "Sauce" Garcia of Carpentaria, and a host of cousins, extended family, co-workers, and friends.