William Gordon Winebrenner

On the morning of Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the Lord called William Gordon Winebrenner, age 86, to his eternal home.

Gordon was born January 11, 1937 in Minersville, Ohio to the late Roy and Maggie Merritt Winebrenner. At only a few weeks old, he had to be carried out of the second floor window of the house during the 1937 Flood—and so began his life of adventure and great stories. He grew up in Syracuse, Ohio, where he lived his entire life. At the age of ten, he started learning carpentry alongside his father. “Flash Gordon” met Susan Zuspan on July 4, 1959, and they married on August 23, 1963. A few years later he took over the family business, Racine Planing Mill, after his father passed away, and since then created thousands of pieces of fine custom millwork. Examples of his craftsmanship can be found throughout the Ohio Valley region in houses, churches, schools, banks, and municipal buildings. He always told customers “if you can get me a picture, I’ll try to build it.” He also later built many skiffs and johnboats through the acquired Weaver Skiff Works.

Even more than his reputation as a craftsman, however, is the reputation of his integrity, humility, industriousness, and devotion to taking care of the people he loved. He was a gentle, honest man who lived by his convictions, full of knowledge, wisdom—and mischief always accompanied by a smile and a glint in his eyes. Many of his happiest moments were spent with his family, to whom he was a loving husband, dad, grandpa, uncle, and cousin. Everything he did was marked by his faith in Christ and his commitment to following Him. He has left a great legacy for us all.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Susan Zuspan Winebrenner; his loving daughters, Mary Winebrenner Lundell, Paula Winebrenner (Jim) Daugherty, and Rebecca Winebrenner (Keith) Howell; the grandchildren of whom he was so proud, Danielle, Andrew, Joshua, Meredith, Joseph, Gabrielle, Joel, Christian, and Ellie; and many other dearly loved family and friends. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law Allan Lundell, his parents, and his sister Mary Winebrenner (Harold) Weaver.

To honor his life and say goodbye, family and friends are invited to attend visitation on Friday, September 22 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Foglesong Funeral Home in Mason, West Virginia. Visitation will also be held on Saturday, September 23 from noon to 2:00 P.M. at Fairview Bible Church in Letart, West Virginia, with service immediately following. The burial will be held at Letart-Evergreen Cemetery in Letart, West Virginia.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.foglesongfuneralhome.com