Winifred Doris “Winnie” Lanehart, longtime resident of Skyline and recently of Mechanicsville, generous supporter of the Morningside Volunteer Department, died March 12. She was 86.
She was the beloved wife for 54 years of the late Chester A. Lanehart, Jr. They were active members of the Skyline Citizens Association. In 2013 Chester and Winnie were crowned Skyline’s King and Queen. They rode the Skyline float, waving to their constituents as they rode Suitland Road in the Morningside Independence Day Parade.
Winnie worked for the Department of Transportation and as tax adviser with H&R Block before deciding to retire. She enjoyed Bingo, crossword puzzles, playing games on her tablet, eating out, catching up with friends and, most of all, crocheting.
She crocheted blankets for the Morningside firefighters and made Thanksgiving dinner for them. This is not surprising because her husband Chester — or Chet, as I knew him — was a civilian Federal Firefighter at Andrews more then 40 years, served as President of the international Association of Fire Fighters #297 for 30 years, and was the National Vice President of the National Federation of Federal Employees. Chet died Nov. 29, 2013.
In addition to her husband, Winnie is predeceased by her son Chester III, three brothers and three sisters. Survivors include daughter Tinya Blake, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and brother Johnny,.
Visitation will be at Lee’s Funeral Home, Friday March 29, 10-12 a.m. Service at noon.
Town of MorningsideUpcoming Town events: Senior Event on April 13; Skate Van & Ice-Cream Social, June 22; and — especially! — the Fourth of July Parade followed by Family Fun Day and great fireworks.
There are town elections every year on the first Monday in May. This year, the polls will open May 6. News of candidates will be in future columns.
A reader asks: Does anyone know if Morningside or Suitland has a community garden or garden events this year? If you know of any, email me (muddmm@gmail.com) and I’ll run the answer in the column.
Changing landscapeSouthern Style Chicken and Waffle. 6711 Marlboro Pike is getting star reviews online. Drop by or use DoorDash. One review: “The chicken wings are great! Must have the mac and cheese.” Info: 301-835-4477.
A home at 13408 Piscataway Drive, in Fort Washington, just sold for $470,000.
Places to go & things to doBuild a kite and head to the Washington Monument Grounds for the 2024 Blossom Kite Festival, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain date, Sunday, March 31. If you don’t bring a kite, you can pick up a free kite kit while supplies last or purchase the official 2024 Festival Kite onsite. The Park Service will be there with plenty of fun and educational kids’ activities, as well as performances, food and music. All welcome.
Easter at St. Philip’s, in Camp Springs: March 30, Easter Vigil, 8 p.m. Easter Sunday, March 31, Mass, 10 a.m. Mass in Spanish at noon. Info: 301-423-4740.
Me & my timesIt all began in Detroit, Michigan, when I was born at Henry Ford Hospital where my father, Dr. Richard Dyer Mudd, from Anacostia, D.C, and my mother, Rose Marie Krummack R.N., from Ravenna, Nebraska, worked. Sometime during 1928, in a Chinese restaurant, Richard proposed to Rose, and he sang “Let me call you sweetheart.” (He sang it every year on their anniversary.) They married in June; nine months later, March 12, 1929, I was born, the first of their seven children.
As a new M.D., Dad went to work for General Motors, setting up infirmaries in factories, which soon took our family to Cincinnati, Ohio, where I started my education at St. Agnes School. After two years, Dad was transferred to Saginaw, Mich., where I attended St. Andrew’s School and graduated 8th grade at St. Mary’s Cathedral School.
World War II began. Dad was assigned to Kelly Field, Texas, where he headed the Medical Division. Our family was housed on the base. I went to Our Lady of the Lake High School (OLL) in San Antonio, where I edited the school paper. I got my first job at Joske’s Department Store, “The Largest Store in the Largest State,” working summers in the advertising department. I graduated OLL in the midst of a polio epidemic.
The War ended. In June 1946 the Mudds returned to Saginaw. September came and I went off to college at St. Mary’s Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana. I majored in Spanish (spent one summer at Mexico City College), minored in journalism, edited the school newspaper, and where, at a Tea Dance, I met a Notre Damer, John Edward McHale, of Houston, Texas. We both graduated in 1950.
I went home and I worked at WSAM, an NBC affiliate in Saginaw, until I married Jack at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Jan. 3, 1951. We bought a home in Houston where Jack was a reporter for The Houston Press. Jack joined the FBI in 1951 and we drove to D.C. where Jack did his training. His first assignment was Los Angeles and, a year later, San Francisco. Six years (and five children) later, Jack was assigned to FBI Headquarters in Washington.
It was June 1958. We bought a home on Skyline Drive where I still live. Two more daughters were born. All told, our family was complete with Kathleen, Mike, Therese, John, Brian, Elaine and Sheila.
As the kids grew, I returned to college, to Catholic University where I earned a master’s in library science. I was school librarian at St. Philip’s from the mid-1960s to the late 1990s.
I also played a lot of bridge. I was a founding member, and newsletter editor, for the Skyline Citizens Association. The kids grew up, went off to college and got married. Jack retired from the FBI, then served as aide to County Exec Larry Hogan who tapped him for County Chief of Police, 1979-1983.
In 2004, Jack died, and over the years, my parents, three of my siblings, son Brian and grandson Christopher. A lot of tears shed.
Three of my kids now live in Maryland, two more in Texas and one in Ohio. I have 12 grandkids and 5 great-grands. They complete me. In March I turned 95.
I’ve started writing this column in July 1976 after Morningside Mayor Gerald Glaubitz asked me to. I enjoy doing it and I appreciate your news.
MilestonesHappy Birthday to my niece Elizabeth Crowe, March 26; Sylvia Barbour and Mark Cummings, March 31; Wayne Booth, Susan Frostbutter, Douglas Mangum and James Whipple, April 1; Shawn Michael Cook and Sophia Marie Burguia, April 2; Melissa Lytton, Sophia Cordero and Bernie Saylor, April 3; Earlene Erhardt Righter, Jimmy Shipman and Kaitlin Woods, April 5.
Happy 35th anniversary to Walter and Fannie Dimes who wed April 1, 1989, in Frederick, Maryland.
Email me (muddmm@aol.com) with birthdays and anniversaries.
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