W.E.Winters Dies, Was BHS Coach

William E. Winters, 90, best known as an outstanding coach of track teams at Batavia High School during a 42 year career in the City School System, died Wednesday, July 15, 1981 in Moorehead City, N.C. after a lengthy illness.

Mr. Winters resided at 119 South Main St. for many years, always walking to the then Junior-Senior High on Ross Street and to Woodward Field for track team practice and meets.

The coach, who rose to physical director of the public schools during World War II also taught classes in grade schools and assisted Coach Leo Pierce in football and basketball during the 1920's and 1930's

A native of Geneseo, Mr. Winters was employed in the composing room of the Daily News in his teens. He entered the physical education field at Griegsville High School in 1917-1918 and the following year taught in Binghamton before reeturning to Batavia in 1919.

Mr. Winters was a long distance runner for Batavia High, the family having moved to Batavia from Geneseo. He attended physical education classes at Cornell Univeersity and Buffalo State College. As a basketball coach, Mr. Winters sent a team to the state tournament in the early 1920's.

At the close of his career in the schools, Mr.Winters was a study hall supervisor. He was well-known as a disciplinarian with his track teams and in coaching.

Mr. Winters and his wife, Nellie Skinner Winters, observed their 50th wedding anniversary in 1962. The late Mrs. Winters was a secretary in the office of the Sheriff's Department for ten years. Both were members of and active in the First Baptist Church for many years. Mrs. Winters died in 1977.

Surviving are two sons, Donald of Morehead City, N.C. and Harold of Colton, CA., and a daughter, Mrs. Ruth Dobeis of Buffalo; a brother Benjamin, of Medina; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at the H.E. Turner & Company Inc. Mortuary with interment in Grand View Cemetery. There will be no prior calling hours.