In Loving Memory

Lurah (Dyer) Winkelmann

Lurah (Dyer) Winkelmann
September 17, 1922
June 16, 2015
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Louisiana may have Steel Magnolias, but in Texas we have Iron Bluebonnets. The strength to live through the Great Depression, World War II as your brothers and loved ones proudly served our nation, your son serving in the military during the Vietnam Era, the illness and death of your eldest child, to live longer than all 11 of your siblings, and not just live through it, but to do so with Southern Charm makes for one delightfully strong 92 year old.

Always making lemonade from lemons with a kind word and a sweet sense of humor, Lurah Elizabeth Dyer Winkelmann will be greatly missed. She loved her family and friends and truly loved people. She enjoyed beating most family at cards and dominoes, and she often had more than one book going at a time. She enjoyed traveling and had many great adventures with her family and beloved lifelong friend, William Frank.

Lurah was born on September 17, 1922 in Temple, Texas at her parents’ home. She and her twin brother, George Lewis, were so small they were put in a shoe box. Her father was George F. Dyer and her mother was Martha Elizabeth Holcomb Dyer.

There being so many of the Dyer children made for great pleasure as the Chappell Hill School plays could not go on without them. Lurah was known to come dressed in Valentine hearts and sing to her class. She was always reciting poetry learned in grade school. When her sister, Earle Dyer Kelly, was asked who was their mother’s favorite, what could she say except, “Of course it was Lurah. She was always helping mother and doing her chores.” Lurah was Valedictorian of the Chappell Hill School before graduating from Brenham High School where she was honored to become Cotton Queen. The Cotton Queen wore a gown and train with fresh cotton accents. As Lurah picked many bags of cotton to help her family during harvesting time, being dressed as a queen was quite the honor, and she was thrilled to be given an airplane ride over Brenham and surrounding areas. Later, The Cotton Queen title would become Washington County Fair Queen.

Lurah was awarded first place in the Milk Maid Review at the 1941 Fayette County Fair where she would meet her future husband, Raymond H. Winkelmann. He would bring boxes of Hershey’s chocolate to her father, George, each time he would come to visit. Amazing that Hershey’s chocolate would lead to their marriage in 1942 and would remain one of her favorites because just like her father, she had quite the sweet tooth. Lurah wore her sister, Earle’s, wedding gown, which would be worn by brides of the next generation.

Lurah took a leave from attending Blinn College where she was studying to become a teacher, when her mother became ill. She nursed and cared for her mother, Martha Elizabeth, until her death.

Those Hershey bars would lead to a family of four children. Ray would become a Texas historian and preservationist of antique buildings and furniture; Terry would become the rodeo cowboy and teacher; Lura Beth would become the proud mother of two wonderful children and a teacher; and Wynne would become a dedicated teacher as well as her mother’s caregiver.

She is survived by her son, Terry Winkelmann, and daughter-in-law, Donna Winkelmann. Donna learned to be an excellent card player, and Lurah so greatly enjoyed many evenings playing pitch with friends at Terry and Donna’s home. Surviving is her daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Jon Brooke. Jon always checked in on Lurah, spending time with her and taking her to the doctor. She was so proud of Beth’s children Amy Elizabeth Heintz Moore and Dyer Heintz. Amy filled her grandmother with pride as a graduate of Texas A&M’s Mays Business School where she earned her MBA and was class president and Student of the Year. Lurah was determined to attend Amy’s wedding in New Orleans in April 2014 as she adored Alex Moore, Amy’s fiancé, and his charming love of her granddaughter.

Lurah loved and supported Dyer by baking him his favorite banana bread to take with him to medical school. She made her famous Dyer family fudge as a favor for all of his wedding guests as well as enough of his favorite chocolate layered dessert to serve in lieu of a groom’s cake. After Dyer graduated from medical school, Willie and Lurah were delighted to pass down Willie’s family rings for him to present to his bride, Desiree, upon their engagement. Lurah was so proud as Dyer fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a pediatric gastroenterologist. Desiree has blessed this family with three little girls for their Gigi to love and adore. She has always been so thoughtful and loving to send text messages with movies and artwork in the mail from 5 year old Isabelle Claire, 3 year old Caroline Lurah, and 8 month old Madelyn Brooke. Being their Gigi was the joy of Lurah’s life.

She is survived by her youngest daughter, Wynne, who has always been devoted to loving her and caring for her in her later years. Lurah and Wille came to school to teach Wynne’s first grade students to play dominoes and listen to them read. Lurah was the classroom’s grandmother, and former students remember her for her cookies and kindness.

Lurah is also survived by her lovely sister-in-law, Elizabeth Duffel Dyer, wife of her twin brother, George Lewis Dyer.

Lurah was the last living sibling of the Dyer family. She was preceded in death by her son, Ray Winkelmann; her beloved friend, William Frank; her dearest girlfriend, Ruth Spitzer; her parents, George F. and Martha Elizabeth Dyer; and her siblings – Jewel Dyer Kessler, Lillian Dyer Ashworth, Ann Dyer Clever, Sue Dyer Boyett, Evelyn Dyer Stubbs, twins Johnnie Maurice Dyer and Zady Movine Dyer, Earle Dyer Kelly, Bonnie Dyer Tharp, Benjamin Fountain “Billy” Dyer, and her twin brother, George Lewis Dyer. She would say, ”I am the Last of the Mohicans; it is lonely and hard to be the last.” But, Lurah lived a long and love-filled life.

She will live on in name through her great granddaughter, Caroline Lurah, and through the stories the family loves to share with one another. Lurah and those stories are treasured by the many nieces and nephews who adored her; many of whom wear her beautiful smile. When we think of her, we will see that smile and remember the warrior spirit behind it.

Lurah Winkelmann passed at her home with her family on June 16, 2015. Visitation will be at Brenham Memorial Chapel from 5-7pm on Friday, June 19th, and services will be held at Christ Lutheran Church on Saturday, June 20th at 10:30am.


Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX 77833. 979.836.3611 Share condolences at www.BrenhamMemorial.Chapel.com.