James Winaught

James Rafford Winaught (Jim or Jimmy to his friends), age 64, passed away on November 23, 2022, after two years of battling with serious heart and kidney issues. He left behind four children (Colleen, Jeffrey, Jamie, and Ashley) and his loving partner of 22 years, Terri Winaught, as well as his sister Linda and his three grandchildren (Aidan, Emily, and James).

One thing people would always say about Jim is that he always knew how to make people laugh. When he was at his best, he could charm literally anybody. This, of course, earned him a lot of friends, some of whom he became close enough with that he considered them family. He had a quick wit and a knack for comedic timing, as well as a pretty wicked sense of humor. This was inspired by his love of great comedians; from Adam Sandler to the Three Stooges, he enjoyed them all. His sense of humor was his gift, and he loved to share it with the world.

The one person who undisputedly adored him the most is his long-time companion and partner, Terri. Jim and Terri originally met in the 80s, but didn't start dating until over a decade later. Once they did though, there was no separating them. Up until the day he died, Terri was his rock, and he hers. She brought out a lot of his best attributes, most importantly his compassionate side. He took care of her as much as she did him, and he really loved cooking for her and going out to eat with her. He was her guide while they were out and about, and excelled at it. The part of him guiding her she enjoyed the most was getting to rub his hairy arms. Although those arms never made him a rich man like she had hoped they did bring a lot of happiness to her and others, which is a wealth of its own.

Because of Terri, Jim ended up joining BOLD (Blind Outdoor Leisure and Development). He enjoyed the events he went to immensely and loved guiding the vision impaired people he worked with. He made quite a few friends at these events, and enjoyed guiding them so much he nicknamed his arms 'The Hairy Arm Express'.

Jim (Jimmy) had many passions and interests, the most prominent being sports. He loved going to see the Pirates and the Steelers play, and even worked security at PNC Park until his health made him unable to do so. Every year he could he would buy season tickets to both, and he loved to bring his friends and family along too.

Along with sports, he also adored music. Oftentimes he would perch in front of the TV and jam out to one of the classic rock or disco channels on cable, especially if it was Fleetwood Mac or one of the other greats. Sometimes you would even catch him singing along, his voice surprisingly pleasant. He and Terri would frequently score tickets to one concert or another as well, like Lynyrd Skynyrd or Stevie Wonder, and would gift them to loved ones as well. They were both very thoughtful that way.

His biggest passion was undoubtedly professional wrestling. He amassed throughout his lifetime a sizeable collection of wrestling tapes, as well as spent many a night watching WWE Pay-Per-Views and going to matches whenever they were in town. This enthusiasm was shared with most of the people around him, and it was common for him to host WrestleMania viewing parties for his numerous friends. Those events were usually a delightful time with a lot of laughs and snacks

There is no doubt that Jim was at his core a good person, just as there is no doubt his loss leaves a gaping hole in the world. He had many people who loved him despite his flaws. He was just that kind of man. You couldn't help but laugh with him or share his passion for the things and people he loved most. He brought a lot of happiness to those who knew him well, and his passing undoubtedly will be felt for a long time.

To Jim we leave these final sentiments:
May you see better; hear better, and feel better as you peacefully enjoy God’s Heavenly banquet by resting eternally in His everlasting arms.

May you find that elusive peace at last, forever knowing that you are loved and sorely missed.
Blessed be.