David K. Winter

David K. Winter went to be with the Lord he so dearly loved on August 15 at the age of 84.

Dave’s greatest hope for his life was that God be glorified in him. All who had the pleasure of knowing Dave will attest that God indeed was glorified by this humble leader’s kindness, wisdom, and grace.

Dave served in the U.S. Navy for four years as an air intelligence officer and earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from UCLA and a doctorate in anthropology and sociology from Michigan State University. He taught at Wheaton College, Calvin College, and MSU. He served as academic vice president at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, rising to executive vice president in three years.

In July 1976, he returned to his native Southern California to serve as president of Westmont from 1976-2001 and returning as interim president and chancellor in 2006-07.

After his second retirement from Westmont, Dave served Providence, a new college-preparatory school in Santa Barbara, as headmaster from 2008-2011, and then again as a board member until the time of his death.

Dave touched countless lives through his board service in many local organizations, including Cottage Health System, the United Way Campaign, the Mosher Foundation, Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, Braille Institute, Young Life, Habitat for Humanity, Senior Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the Council on Higher Education in Washington, D.C., and many more.

David Winter is survived by his beloved wife of 27 years, Helene Eaton Winter, his true partner in every sense of the word, and his three children, Laura Winter, Frankie Winter, and Bruce Winter, and Helene’s children, Stacey (Shaun) Smith, Stephen (Amy) Kamm, and Jeremy (Kirsten) Kamm and 11 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on August 29 at 10:00 am at First Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in David Winter’s memory to Providence, SBCS (630 E. Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara 93103; providencesb.org).