Vestina was the daughter of Corporal James Jacob and Lovira Ann Huntley Winans. Her name is very unique and it's unknown how J.J. and Lovira chose her name, but the meaning of Vestina is "butterfly". Vanlou (or Vanlue) is a Dutch surname meaning "from the forest clearing".
She married William Armstrong on August 13, 1889 in Trumbull Co., OH. They had two children, John Winans and Dora Butler Armstrong. Dora died at the age of four from spinal meningitis, at the time thought to be "brain trouble". Vestina's father, J.J. Winans was a miserly soul and had always despised his son in law. He blamed William for little Dora's death because he was often gone for weeks at a time at his carpentry trade.
Vestina and William separated before the turn of the century, but never legally divorced. J.J. kept William from seeing his son John. After J.J. falsely accused William from trying to kidnap John, the authorities forbid William from ever showing his face in Trumbull County again. Vestina did not see her husband until the mid 1930's when the family reunited. They did not exchange many words the few times they saw one another and the family had only been back in touch with William for a short time before his tragic death.
Vestina worked as a chambermaid in a Warren hotel for most of her life. She worked her way up to the "boss lady" in charge of the hotel operations. On New Year's Eves, her grandchildren would come to the hotel and watch fireworks with her. After her retirement, she lived with another older lady as a lodger.
One icy winter's day, while on her way to a meeting, Vestina was crossing the street in downtown Warren when she heard a car horn. Startled, she slipped on the pavement and broke several bones which put her in the hospital for a few months. Not long after her return home, she was walking down the stairs when she fell and broke her hip. Her roommate refused to care for her any longer, so Vestina moved in with her son John, his wife Leah, and their sixteen children.
Vestina was one of the sweetest, most caring women, one that was thought of with great fondness by her grandchildren. The younger group of grandchildren were known to play pranks on her, taking advantage of her weakened condition. Vestina spent the remainder of her life a cripple, hobbling about on crutches. The grandchildren would throw rocks at her as she made her way slowly across the yard and that's when she'd shake her crutches at them in a fury. Little Joyce delighted in annoying Vestina to no end by pounding loudly on the family piano and no level of hollering on Vestina's part did much good. Little Paul knew where grandma hid her stash of candy and swiped it every chance he had. Wisened, Vestina took to tucking the candy beneath the chair where she sat. That's when Joyce and Paul began working together by Joyce pounding on the piano and waiting for Grandma to focus her attention on her and holler away. That's when Paul would sneak under Vestina's chair and steal her candy. Vestina soon put two and two together and brandished her crutches in a firm threat.
Despite the mischief done to her by some of her grandchildren, Vestina remained quite good-natured through it all and was a loving and kind soul. Her oldest granddaughter Ila said simply that she was a "good woman". Vestina may have had a hard life with many woes, but she never complained or allowed her demeanor to sour. It's hard to say if she felt embittered by the husband who abandoned her because she never revealed it.
* * * Obituary * * *
MRS. VESTINA ARMSTRONG
Mrs. Vestina Winans Armstrong, 85, died Saturday at 2 p.m. at the home of her son, John, in Bazetta.
Born February 5, 1867 in Mecca Township, the daughter of James and Lovira Huntley Winans. She was a resident of Trumbull County all her life and was a member of the Central Christian Church in Warren.
The body is at the Love Funeral Home where friends may call tonight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Services will be held Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. David Geyer officiating.
Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery.
She is survived by her son John of Bazetta, 16 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
She married William Armstrong on August 13, 1889 in Trumbull Co., OH. They had two children, John Winans and Dora Butler Armstrong. Dora died at the age of four from spinal meningitis, at the time thought to be "brain trouble". Vestina's father, J.J. Winans was a miserly soul and had always despised his son in law. He blamed William for little Dora's death because he was often gone for weeks at a time at his carpentry trade.
Vestina and William separated before the turn of the century, but never legally divorced. J.J. kept William from seeing his son John. After J.J. falsely accused William from trying to kidnap John, the authorities forbid William from ever showing his face in Trumbull County again. Vestina did not see her husband until the mid 1930's when the family reunited. They did not exchange many words the few times they saw one another and the family had only been back in touch with William for a short time before his tragic death.
Vestina worked as a chambermaid in a Warren hotel for most of her life. She worked her way up to the "boss lady" in charge of the hotel operations. On New Year's Eves, her grandchildren would come to the hotel and watch fireworks with her. After her retirement, she lived with another older lady as a lodger.
One icy winter's day, while on her way to a meeting, Vestina was crossing the street in downtown Warren when she heard a car horn. Startled, she slipped on the pavement and broke several bones which put her in the hospital for a few months. Not long after her return home, she was walking down the stairs when she fell and broke her hip. Her roommate refused to care for her any longer, so Vestina moved in with her son John, his wife Leah, and their sixteen children.
Vestina was one of the sweetest, most caring women, one that was thought of with great fondness by her grandchildren. The younger group of grandchildren were known to play pranks on her, taking advantage of her weakened condition. Vestina spent the remainder of her life a cripple, hobbling about on crutches. The grandchildren would throw rocks at her as she made her way slowly across the yard and that's when she'd shake her crutches at them in a fury. Little Joyce delighted in annoying Vestina to no end by pounding loudly on the family piano and no level of hollering on Vestina's part did much good. Little Paul knew where grandma hid her stash of candy and swiped it every chance he had. Wisened, Vestina took to tucking the candy beneath the chair where she sat. That's when Joyce and Paul began working together by Joyce pounding on the piano and waiting for Grandma to focus her attention on her and holler away. That's when Paul would sneak under Vestina's chair and steal her candy. Vestina soon put two and two together and brandished her crutches in a firm threat.
Despite the mischief done to her by some of her grandchildren, Vestina remained quite good-natured through it all and was a loving and kind soul. Her oldest granddaughter Ila said simply that she was a "good woman". Vestina may have had a hard life with many woes, but she never complained or allowed her demeanor to sour. It's hard to say if she felt embittered by the husband who abandoned her because she never revealed it.
* * * Obituary * * *
MRS. VESTINA ARMSTRONG
Mrs. Vestina Winans Armstrong, 85, died Saturday at 2 p.m. at the home of her son, John, in Bazetta.
Born February 5, 1867 in Mecca Township, the daughter of James and Lovira Huntley Winans. She was a resident of Trumbull County all her life and was a member of the Central Christian Church in Warren.
The body is at the Love Funeral Home where friends may call tonight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Services will be held Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. David Geyer officiating.
Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery.
She is survived by her son John of Bazetta, 16 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
Vestina was the daughter of Corporal James Jacob and Lovira Ann Huntley Winans. Her name is very unique and it's unknown how J.J. and Lovira chose her name, but the meaning of Vestina is "butterfly". Vanlou (or Vanlue) is a Dutch surname meaning "from the forest clearing".
She married William Armstrong on August 13, 1889 in Trumbull Co., OH. They had two children, John Winans and Dora Butler Armstrong. Dora died at the age of four from spinal meningitis, at the time thought to be "brain trouble". Vestina's father, J.J. Winans was a miserly soul and had always despised his son in law. He blamed William for little Dora's death because he was often gone for weeks at a time at his carpentry trade.
Vestina and William separated before the turn of the century, but never legally divorced. J.J. kept William from seeing his son John. After J.J. falsely accused William from trying to kidnap John, the authorities forbid William from ever showing his face in Trumbull County again. Vestina did not see her husband until the mid 1930's when the family reunited. They did not exchange many words the few times they saw one another and the family had only been back in touch with William for a short time before his tragic death.
Vestina worked as a chambermaid in a Warren hotel for most of her life. She worked her way up to the "boss lady" in charge of the hotel operations. On New Year's Eves, her grandchildren would come to the hotel and watch fireworks with her. After her retirement, she lived with another older lady as a lodger.
One icy winter's day, while on her way to a meeting, Vestina was crossing the street in downtown Warren when she heard a car horn. Startled, she slipped on the pavement and broke several bones which put her in the hospital for a few months. Not long after her return home, she was walking down the stairs when she fell and broke her hip. Her roommate refused to care for her any longer, so Vestina moved in with her son John, his wife Leah, and their sixteen children.
Vestina was one of the sweetest, most caring women, one that was thought of with great fondness by her grandchildren. The younger group of grandchildren were known to play pranks on her, taking advantage of her weakened condition. Vestina spent the remainder of her life a cripple, hobbling about on crutches. The grandchildren would throw rocks at her as she made her way slowly across the yard and that's when she'd shake her crutches at them in a fury. Little Joyce delighted in annoying Vestina to no end by pounding loudly on the family piano and no level of hollering on Vestina's part did much good. Little Paul knew where grandma hid her stash of candy and swiped it every chance he had. Wisened, Vestina took to tucking the candy beneath the chair where she sat. That's when Joyce and Paul began working together by Joyce pounding on the piano and waiting for Grandma to focus her attention on her and holler away. That's when Paul would sneak under Vestina's chair and steal her candy. Vestina soon put two and two together and brandished her crutches in a firm threat.
Despite the mischief done to her by some of her grandchildren, Vestina remained quite good-natured through it all and was a loving and kind soul. Her oldest granddaughter Ila said simply that she was a "good woman". Vestina may have had a hard life with many woes, but she never complained or allowed her demeanor to sour. It's hard to say if she felt embittered by the husband who abandoned her because she never revealed it.
* * * Obituary * * *
MRS. VESTINA ARMSTRONG
Mrs. Vestina Winans Armstrong, 85, died Saturday at 2 p.m. at the home of her son, John, in Bazetta.
Born February 5, 1867 in Mecca Township, the daughter of James and Lovira Huntley Winans. She was a resident of Trumbull County all her life and was a member of the Central Christian Church in Warren.
The body is at the Love Funeral Home where friends may call tonight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Services will be held Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. David Geyer officiating.
Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery.
She is survived by her son John of Bazetta, 16 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
She married William Armstrong on August 13, 1889 in Trumbull Co., OH. They had two children, John Winans and Dora Butler Armstrong. Dora died at the age of four from spinal meningitis, at the time thought to be "brain trouble". Vestina's father, J.J. Winans was a miserly soul and had always despised his son in law. He blamed William for little Dora's death because he was often gone for weeks at a time at his carpentry trade.
Vestina and William separated before the turn of the century, but never legally divorced. J.J. kept William from seeing his son John. After J.J. falsely accused William from trying to kidnap John, the authorities forbid William from ever showing his face in Trumbull County again. Vestina did not see her husband until the mid 1930's when the family reunited. They did not exchange many words the few times they saw one another and the family had only been back in touch with William for a short time before his tragic death.
Vestina worked as a chambermaid in a Warren hotel for most of her life. She worked her way up to the "boss lady" in charge of the hotel operations. On New Year's Eves, her grandchildren would come to the hotel and watch fireworks with her. After her retirement, she lived with another older lady as a lodger.
One icy winter's day, while on her way to a meeting, Vestina was crossing the street in downtown Warren when she heard a car horn. Startled, she slipped on the pavement and broke several bones which put her in the hospital for a few months. Not long after her return home, she was walking down the stairs when she fell and broke her hip. Her roommate refused to care for her any longer, so Vestina moved in with her son John, his wife Leah, and their sixteen children.
Vestina was one of the sweetest, most caring women, one that was thought of with great fondness by her grandchildren. The younger group of grandchildren were known to play pranks on her, taking advantage of her weakened condition. Vestina spent the remainder of her life a cripple, hobbling about on crutches. The grandchildren would throw rocks at her as she made her way slowly across the yard and that's when she'd shake her crutches at them in a fury. Little Joyce delighted in annoying Vestina to no end by pounding loudly on the family piano and no level of hollering on Vestina's part did much good. Little Paul knew where grandma hid her stash of candy and swiped it every chance he had. Wisened, Vestina took to tucking the candy beneath the chair where she sat. That's when Joyce and Paul began working together by Joyce pounding on the piano and waiting for Grandma to focus her attention on her and holler away. That's when Paul would sneak under Vestina's chair and steal her candy. Vestina soon put two and two together and brandished her crutches in a firm threat.
Despite the mischief done to her by some of her grandchildren, Vestina remained quite good-natured through it all and was a loving and kind soul. Her oldest granddaughter Ila said simply that she was a "good woman". Vestina may have had a hard life with many woes, but she never complained or allowed her demeanor to sour. It's hard to say if she felt embittered by the husband who abandoned her because she never revealed it.
* * * Obituary * * *
MRS. VESTINA ARMSTRONG
Mrs. Vestina Winans Armstrong, 85, died Saturday at 2 p.m. at the home of her son, John, in Bazetta.
Born February 5, 1867 in Mecca Township, the daughter of James and Lovira Huntley Winans. She was a resident of Trumbull County all her life and was a member of the Central Christian Church in Warren.
The body is at the Love Funeral Home where friends may call tonight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Services will be held Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. David Geyer officiating.
Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery.
She is survived by her son John of Bazetta, 16 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
Family Members
Siblings
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James D. Winans
1862–1884
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Sidney M. Winans
1864–1940
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William Wendell Winans
1868–1950
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Oscar Nellis Winans
1871–1945
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Vernis Birdsell "Birdsey" Winans
1873–1903
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Verna Lovira Winans
1874–1897
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Julia Elizabeth "Julie" Winans
1876–1895
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Maud Morin "Amanda" Winans Downs
1877–1916
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Tod Archie Winans
1882–1955
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Mabel Winans
1885–1885
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James Jacob Winans Jr
1885 – unknown
