Winifred Ann "Winnie" Giddens

Winifred Ann “Winnie” Giddens entered her heavenly home on June 15, 2024, at the age of 102. She was born in New York City, New York to Henry Miller and Isobel (Borland) Miller Case on June 12, 1922. She graduated from East Aurora High School in Buffalo, NY. Due to her love of art, she continued her studies at Pratt Institute in New York.

Winnie was working for the State Department in D.C. prior to joining the US Marines during WWII. She was stationed in California where she met her future husband, Bernice Giddens, a Marine pilot. They married on March 31, 1945 and were blessed with 54 wonderful years together, prior to his death in 1999. After the war, she and Bernice moved to Leander, TX., followed by a short stay in Cherry Point, NC before making their final move to Mexia in 1964. 

Winnie wasn’t one to be idle, at the age of 52, she received her bachelor’s degree in speech therapy. Afterwards, she went to work for the Mexia State School, retiring after 16 years of service. She was also a very gifted and talented watercolorist. While living in Waco for 15 years, she received many awards for her work from Central Texas Watercolor Society. She received another special honor as Winifred Giddens was proclaimed “First Lady” at Skilled Care of Mexia on her 100th birthday and in observance of Women’s Veterans Day on June 12, 2022.

Winnie enjoyed traveling all over the world. After Bernice retired, they went to Alaska where they remained for six months. Although she and Bernice enjoyed several trips together, she was accompanied on most of her trips by her close friends. 

She was preceded in death by her father, Henry Miller; mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Les M. Case; brother, Thomas Case; and son-in-law, Bill McCullough.

Winnie is survived by her children, Robert Bruce Giddens and wife, Colleen of San Clemente and Audrey McCullough of Mexia; grandchildren, Ben Giddens, Heidi Hartigen, Mary Beth Spadero, Scott McCullough; and Courtney Spath; 22 great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Patricia Case of Mexia and Joann Giddens of Leander.

Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in the Bagdad Cemetery in Leander, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gibbs Memorial Library, 305 E. Rusk, Mexia, TX 76667 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.