Winona D. (Engel) - Gray

Winona (Engel) Gray, age 94, of Topeka, Kansas went home to the Lord on Thursday, November 10, 2022, with her children by her side. She was one day shy of her 95th birthday.

Winona was the only child of Andrew Dale and Lorene Ethel (Maddox) Barton. She was born November 11, 1927, in Larenzo, TX. She grew up in and around Grady county Oklahoma where she attended high school in Fairview, OK . Her favorite work experiences were related to the medical field especially as a laboratory technician and phlebotomist. She retired from Fuller Brush in Great Bend, KS where she worked as a quality control technician. Winona enjoyed reading, puttering around her yard, 'baking off' chocolate chip cookies and was an exceptional seamstress. Most precious to her were her children and grandchildren. At the age of 70, she and her mother moved from Great Bend, KS to Topeka, KS to be closer to her children. However, the most important thing that Winona would want you to know is that she loved and depended upon her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She is preceded in death by her parents; Andrew and Lorene Barton; her husband and love of her life, Donald Engel; and, infant great-granddaughter, Reese Lorene Engel, March 14, 2007.

She is survived by her daughter, Devona (Vernon) Dunekack; son; Charles (Patricia) Engel Topeka, KS; step-son Donald C. (Cory) Engel, New Braunfels, TX; 4 grandchildren, William (Sarah) Dunekack, Mary (David) Lutes, Topeka, KS; Donald E. (Becki Carl) Engel, Lawrence, KS, and Jennifer (Engel) Smith, Perry, KS. Also surviving are 14 great-grandchildren: Lindsay (Nick) Hodges, Zoe Dunekack, Olivia Palma, Madison Engel, Ava Dunekack, Elsie Smith, Lily Engel, Matthew Stutz, Teagan Engel, Dino Palma, Emmaleen Smith, Jager Dunekack, and Deen Smith. Her faithful, furry companion of 16 years, Mitzi, also survives.

Funeral Services are planned for Monday, November 21, 2022, at 11:00 am at Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66604. The visitation will be one hour prior to service time.

Interment will be on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at 1:00 pm at Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, Kansas.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to Victoria of Grace Home Care who was instrumental in providing the support our mother needed in order to remain in her home. You, Victoria, became a caring friend to Mom; she looked forward to your visits. Also, to the doctors and nurses of Stormont Vail Emergency Department and the Critical Care Unit, thank you for the compassionate, professional care afforded to our mother and our family. In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions may be made in her name to The Gideons International for purchase of Bibles, or to a charity of the donor's choice.


"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (ESV)