Leola Jane Winfree

Leola J. Winfree, age 88, passed away peacefully at Tennova Residential Hospice in Knoxville, TN on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. Born in Hamilton, OH on December 26, 1923, she was the daughter of Herman and Florence (Jasbring) Keller. Following graduation from Hamilton High School, Lee began a long career with the U.S. Government at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton Ohio. Starting as a secretary and administrative assistant, Lee successfully worked her way into the position of Program Manager in International Logistics. In this role she managed multi-million dollar sales of military equipment to several Middle Eastern countries including Jordan. She was particularly noted for her ability to take complicated ideas and topics and put them in easy-to-understand terms. Married in 1947, Lee and her husband Sam enjoyed extensive travel throughout the world. Following her retirement in 1984, Lee and Sam settled in Tennessee in Tellico Village. In recent years she and Sam lived in Shannondale Retirement Center in Maryville. She volunteered with the IRS for 20 years, and also AARP, as a tax preparer and coordinator. In her leisure time Lee enjoyed spending time with Sam at the ocean in Sarasota FL. An avid Bridge player, she greatly treasured the time spent with her many friends in Tellico Village and Shannondale. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Mary Winfree of Fairborn, OH; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Ken Heile of Cincinnati, OH; grandchildren Jackie Winfree, Lia Heile and Kenneth Heile III, grandson and wife, Rob and Sarah Winfree, and great-grandson Robby Winfree. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years Sam C. Winfree, sister, Louise Richardson and brothers Harold, Ralph, and Richard Keller. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shannondale Memorial Gardens, 804 Shannondale Way, Maryville TN 37803 or Fort Sanders Foundation, 280 Fort Sanders West Blvd, Suite 100, Knoxville TN 37922. A memorial service will be held at Shannondale of Maryville Retirement Center chapel, 804 Shannondale Way, Maryville TN 37803, at 2:00 pm, Monday, November 19, 2012. Interment will be at Tennessee State Veterans' Cemetery alongside Sam. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithMaryville.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Leola Jane Winfree please visit our Sympathy Store.