Margaret Gainnell Wingard of Gulf Shores died Tuesday, Nov. 13 at home from cardiac failure.
She was born Feb. 19, 1932 in Millerville, the daughter of Tula Inez Monroe and Dr. Carlton L. Harris.
She and husband Raymond Randolph Wingard Sr. first connected as infants in Goshen. They grew up separately in and around Montgomery where she attended Miss Margaret Booth’s Finishing School for young ladies while he attended Sydney Lanier High School.
They re-connected by chance in Montgomery in 1949 whereupon, on the first date, he stated his intention of marriage. By June, 1951, she accepted beginning a 56 year love affair covering 10 different parts of the United States as well as parts of Europe and Australia finally returning home to Alabama in 1989.
Her passion was her family in every conceivable way and at all times. She also loved animals of every sort, having operated her own pet shop in Mars, Pa., including importing and raising exotic birds, and was a great patron of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. She was strong in spirit, generosity, compassion, morality, good humor and, above all, in her faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include children, Gainnell Renee (Ronald B.) Guzlas of Gulf Shores, Diana Kay Wingard of Gulf Shores, Rebecca Lynn Wingard of Nashville, Tenn., Randi Robin (Robert F.) Patterson of Fairhope and Raymond Randolph (Meta R.) Wingard Jr.; grandchildren Eric Samson Guzlas, Bethany Kay (Chris M.) Blount, Penney Morgan Patterson, Casey Rae Patterson and Mark Monroe Wingard; and great-grandchild, Tessa Leigh Blount.
Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. with funeral services at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley.
Interment will be in the Pine Rest Mausoleum.
A reception at Pine Rest will immediately follow the service.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by Pine Rest Funeral Home Inc., Foley.
