Winton E. Newcomb

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

June 20, 1921 - July 1, 2007

CAMBRIDGE-- Winton E. Newcomb, 86, died Sunday (July 1, 2007) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

He was born in Cambridge, June 20, 1921, to Edward and Grace L. (Baker) Newcomb. He attended school in Cambridge graduating from Cambridge High School in 1938. He taught rural school after graduation, teaching two years north of Curtis and one year south of Cambridge.

On April 19, 1942, he was united in marriage to Maxine Yost at the First Congregational Church in Cambridge.

On April 20, 1942, he reported for his flight physical into the Army of the United States. He was placed on active duty Nov. 3, 1943, at the 33rd Army Air Force unit at Pampa, Texas Flight Service Center. He entered into the Army as a pilot of a B-24. He was stationed in the Pacific, flying in the Eastern Mandates, Air Offensive of Japan and the Western Pacific campaigns. He was relieved from active duty in April 1946 as a Captain. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak cluster and the Air Medal with five oak clusters.

Upon returning home, Winton taught junior high school in Cambridge for one year.  He then went to work for the United States Postal Service. He was Postmaster for Cambridge for 17 years and 17 years as a rural letter carrier. He retired in 1982 with 34 years of service to the community.

He was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, the Cambridge Lions Club, McCook Elks, and the Cambridge Senior Center. He was a past president of the Cambridge School Board and was instrumental in getting kindergarten established in the school system.  He also officiated many area football and basketball games, when he was younger.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Judy; brother, Bill; son-in-law, Bob Bassford; and brother-in-law, Willard Estergard.

Survivors include his wife, Maxine of Cambridge; two daughters, Sandra and husband, Boyd Ready of Lincoln and Cheryl and husband, Duane Kuhnel of Johnson Lake; one son, Ed of Cambridge; two brothers, Ross and wife, Mae Newcomb of Rupert, Idaho and Bob and wife, Arlene Newcomb of Bartley; one sister, Ruby and husband, Bill Hutcheson of Greeley, Colo.; sister-in-law, Virginia Newcomb of Rupert, Idaho; eight grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Friday, 10:30 a.m., at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Cambridge, with the Rev. Dana Keener officiating. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery. A military committal will be by the Cambridge ?American Legion Post No. 199.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be made to either the Cambridge Senior Center or the First Congregational Church in Cambridge.

Lockenour-Jones Mortuary of Cambridge is in charge of arrangements.