Laura Cleveland Winborn's Obituary
Memorial services for Laura Cleveland Winborn of Longview will be Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 1:30 pm at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Jay Jackson and Rev. Don Meador officiating.
Mrs. WInborn was born March 18, 1936, near Kilgore, Texas to Robert M. and Rosa Lea Cleveland and died Monday, August 7, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Allan Ray Cleveland.
Mrs. Winborn was valedictorian of her high school graduating class, attended Lon Morris College, Southern Methodist University and received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education with certification in Guidance and Counseling from Stephen F. Austin State University. After twenty-nine years in public education she retired from Longview ISD in 2001, with nineteen of those years as counselor in primary and middle schools in Gladewater, Bryan and Longview. She found great joy in working with students, teachers and parents to encourage positive relationships and strengthen student achievement.
Following retirement Laura fulfilled her longtime dream of becoming a Texas Master Gardener and served two terms as president of the Gregg County Master Gardeners Association. IN 2005, she wrote thirty-one weekly garden columns for the Longview News-Journal.
Mrs. Winborn loved God, her dearest friend and husband of 62 years, Rev. Conrad “Connie” W. Winborn, Jr., her precious daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and the Methodist Church where over the years she taught Church School, sang in the church choir, worked with youth, led parenting workshops and divorce recovery groups. During their years of active ministry, the Winborns served nine appointments including the Tyler and Bryan Districts of the Texas Conference and eight years at First United Methodist Church Longview. They returned to Longview after Rev. Winborn’s retirement in 1998.
She is survived by her husband, Conrad “Connie” Winborn, Daughter, Cindy Best and husband, Shane of Longview, daughter, Patti Irons and husband, Bill of Katy; grandchildren, Michael Best, Andrew Best and wife, Cara, Drew Irons and Hope Irons. Brother, Dale Cleveland and wife, Clara; sisters-in-law, Theresa Cleveland and Dorothy Klingle.
Memorials may be made to Asbury House Child Enrichment Center, Newgate Mission or Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center.
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