Peter Winicki, 79, telephone parts inspector
Peter Winicki, a retired telephone parts inspector and World War II veteran, died Thursday of a heart attack at his Towson home. He was 79.
Born and raised in Curtis Bay, Mr. Winicki attended City College. He then began working at Western Electric Co., a telephone-parts manufacturing company in the Point Breeze section of Southeast Baltimore. He was a tool-and-die inspector for 41 years until his 1982 retirement.
He entered the Navy in June 1944 and served on the USS Augusta and the USS Savannah. Family members said he met President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who traveled on the Savannah en route to the Yalta summit.
Mr. Winicki received the European Theater Ribbon, among other awards.
He was a member of the Lions Club of Timonium, where he served as president in 1991 and 1992. He received the Lions' Melvin Jones award, a distinction given in honor of the club's founder. He was also a member of the Towson Elks.
Mr. Winicki was also chairman of the Lions' eyeglass collection committee, a group that collects thousands of glasses to donate to poorer countries. Mr. Winicki was a member of the St. Michael's Duckpin League for 20 years. He also was a longtime Baltimore Colts fan, attending many games at Memorial Stadium.
A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. today at the Roman Catholic Church of the Nativity, 20 East Ridgely Road, Timonium.
Mr. Winicki is survived by his wife of 56 years, the former Alberta Bausch; a son, Paul Winicki of Towson; and two grandchildren.