Sterling Preston Wingate

Sterling Preston Wingate, 75 of Mexico Beach, passes away August 26 at the Clifford Chester Sims Veterans Nursing Hone in Panama City.

He was born April 19, 1933 in Faceville, GA to Perry Lee and Lovie Leola (Bennett) Wingate. Following the death of his mother when he was 6 years old, he and his brothers and sisters were moved to the Florida Baptist Children's Home in Arcadia, FL which was later moved to Lakeland, FL. He lived there until his graduation from Lakeland, FL. He lived there until his graduation from Lakeland High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He moved to Port St. Joe in 1957. He worked at Basic for 24 years. He was a member and deacon at Beach Baptist Chapel at St. Joe Beach.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; a sister, Virginia; and infant son, Sterling Preston Wingate, Jr. and a granddaughter, Christina Lynn Ahrent.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Iduma Wood Wingate of Mexico Beach; three daughters Phyliss Wingate of Port St. Joe, Cyndi Ellzey (Lee) of Inverness, FL and Paula Strickland (Alan) of Burgess Creek, FL, four grandchildren; Cody Strickland of Kansas, Levi Strickland of Burgess Creek, FL, Meghan Ellzey of Tallahassee, FL and Ethan Ellzey of Inverness, FL, two brothers; Austin (Shirley) Wingate of Bristol, FL, Joe (Hiep) Wingate of Sierra Vista, AZ, five sisters; Leola Bracewell of Bristol, FL, Bonnie (Gene) Tombs of Odessa, TX, Louise (Ivan) Chase of Chattahoochee, FL, Kate Hefner of American Canyon, CA and June Kusick of New Orleans, LA, all his brothers and sisters from the Children's Home, many nieces and nephews, and a world of cherished friends.

Services were held at Beach Baptist Chapel at St. Joe Beach August 29 with Rev. David Nichols and Rev. Williams Smith officiating. Internment followed at Holly Hill Cemetery in Port St. Joe. Pallbearers were; Roger Wingate, Tim Wingate, Matt Godwin, Jason Godwin, Glenn Barefoot and Kenny Barefoot.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Florida Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 8190, Lakeland, FL 33802 or Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, FL.