Winona Ruth Bliton passed away on Sunday, May 13, 2018 at the age of 81 after a short and unexpected illness.
Winona was born Della Kay Shafer on August 20, 1936. As a toddler, she was adopted by Bill and Opal Bliton, the parents who raised and loved her throughout their lives. However, because of the not-so-strict adoption and name change processes of that time, her name was not legally changed until she was in her adulthood; therefore, when she joined the workforce she was required to use her birthname. Because of this, many old and dear friends from work knew her as Della.
Winona attended school at Dixie Heights in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky but her family moved right before her senior year and as a result, she graduated from God’s Bible School. But her heart was always with the Colonels and as an adult, bought herself the high school class ring from Dixie Heights that she missed as a senior and wore it proudly through her life.
Winona spent her career with three companies: RCA, LaBlond, and GE. The most memorable and impactful part of her time with these companies was not her job description, but instead the dear friends she met who become a second family to her. It was commonplace for her to know the names and birthdates of not only her friends but also their children, grandchildren, and parents. She maintained close friendships with these special people from each of her workplaces as well as from each of the churches she attended throughout her life.
Although she never married and never had children of her own, this was a blessing to her nieces and nephews who enjoyed so much of her love and attention. She fulfilled her duties as “favorite aunt” wonderfully as she took them on all kinds of adventures like tractor pulls, concerts, and their first airplane rides. She wrapped the prettiest gifts (shiny paper with perfectly creased folds and beautiful bows) and gave them things their parents wouldn’t (lip gloss! a pocket knife! magazine subscriptions!). Her family will miss her terribly.
Winona was a lovely lady – she always had her hair styled, lipstick on, and her outfit perfectly pressed. Even her jeans were pressed (yes, seriously). And even though she always looked beautiful, she was not always a girly-girl. She loved fast cars – especially muscle cars – and treated speed limits as mere suggestions. She often reminisced about the cars she’d had throughout her life, especially her ’72 Olds Cutlass Supreme, her ’72 Olds Cutlass 442 (with a 350 rocket engine), and her 1968 Camaro convertible (a car she loved so much that she bought it back after she sold it – three different times). Age did not slow her down on the road and she continued to drive far faster than anyone realistically should.
Throughout her life, she was always in the company of her pets. She loved her cats and dogs but always had a soft spot in her heart for horses. Her special love was for her horse Lady who was with her for 28 years until Lady passed away in the fall of 2017. We are grateful they are together again.
Winona is survived by her sister Margo Johnson and her brother-in-law Rick of Cross Plains, Indiana and her brother Paul Bliton and her sister-in-law Janet of Jacksonville, Florida. Winona had ten nieces and nephews, one step-niece and one step-nephew, and many great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Opal Bliton, her brother Gene Bliton and sister-in-law Alice Bliton. She was a member at Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Holton.
Memorial services will be at Crossroads Wesleyan Church at 5112 West US 50 in Holton, Indiana on Saturday, May 26, 2018. A visitation service will begin at noon followed by the memorial service at 1:00pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Wesleyan Church. Meyers Funeral Home is assisting the family. www.meyersfuneralhomes.com