Winthrop Ethan Lincoln
May 29, 1933 - November 10, 2025
Woodstock, Vermont
Winthrop Ethan Lincoln, 92, born May 29th, 1933 in Pittsfield, MA died on Nov. 10th, 2025, one day shy of Veteran’s Day, at Cedar Hill Skilled Nursing Facility in Windsor, VT. Pneumonia, and lack of appetite and wondering if anyone was as tired as him finally took him to the great beyond. He was eagerly hoping to continue playing cribbage with his friend, Frank who passed away last winter. They became fast friends at Cedar Hill Assisted Living, they were The Odd Couple, guess who was who? Known as the greeter and everyone’s friend, he remembered names, something to be admired and gave so many nicknames, not just at CH but throughout his life.
Win joined the Air Force right after graduating from Pittsfield High School and served in the Korean War as a radio operator on Air Sea Rescue flight missions. He always had a story to tell, now we get to tell his.
Claire MacDonald from Hanson, MA married Win 70 years ago this past August in 1955 on Cape Cod, MA, a lot of it wedded bliss. Three daughters, who all reside in Vermont, Janelle (Tom) Blake and Bonnie (Richard) Sargent and Joyce(Jeff) Reynolds; 5 grandchildren, Amy, David, Bryan, Lindsey, Chelsea, two honorary, Susanna and Alicia; 4 great grandchildren, Elliot, Piper, Bennett and Sullivan, two honorary, Braley and Sloan. The grandkids called him, Gramp, Grandpa Win and Bumpa, he loved them all.
Living in Hanson, MA and raising his girls he worked for The MacDonald Fuel Corporation owned by his father-in-law, was a fireman, ambulance worker and a member of the Kiwanis Club. He could sing and can still hear him singing, The Downtown Strutters Ball to a standing ovation! Camping was one of his favorite things. First was the big trip across country, in the summer of 1966, towing the JanBonJoy pop-up camper behind our station wagon.He would pull into a campground, set up the camper, then sat in a chair with his clipboard and a much needed beer while his three girls would set up camp, all while Claire cooked a meal over the campfire.Then they purchased a Winnebago and had many trips, to mention a few, to Nova Scotia, DC and the Montreal Expo.
Win was precise, detailed and a stickler for following what was the right thing to do. He listened and gave advice.He played pool, poker, cribbage, darts, badminton and was a lifelong sports fan, especially the Red Sox.
He moved the family to Plymouth, MA in 1969and after the fuel company sale became a court officer, in his uniform, at 6’4” tall he was an imposing figure you didn’t want to mess with. Then a move to VT in 1975, bought a log cabin, a mile up Dunham Hill in Woodstock with a million dollar view, the children thought in the middle of nowhere.Win and Claire loved skiing, hiking and hunting so it was a good fit. Took a ski patrol course at Killington, in way over his head as he’d only been skiing for 5 years, he was hired as the Director of the ski patrol at Mount Tom and Suicide Six for over 30 years. His bigger than life personality, confidence and ability to take charge got him the job. He also worked on clearing trails at Six, Bunny’s Boulevard and Skyline.
He was an avid golf lover and actually got a hole-in-one at the Woodstock Country club. He worked there for decades, first on the grounds crew, then in the clubhouse and eventually as the starter. Win also drove the Woodstock Inn van for many years.
The family would like to thank first, Doctor Hugh Hermann, a great friend and his doctor for a long time until he went to the VA for care. The WRJ, VA for a mountain of superb care from staff, nurses and doctors and the friendships he made were many. Finally, Cedar Hill Assisted Living and the Skilled Nursing Facility, the extraordinary staff and nurses, he was humbled by their care.
His body has gone to the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Win loved life and the many friends and relatives and family he shared it with. He liked to say, “It was quite the ride.” Indeed it was. He asked that we throw him a party which we will do at Suicide Six on Sunday Dec. 7th, 2025 from 1-3 pm. Memorial contributions can be made to Make-A-Wish, 6655 Shelburne Road, STE. 33, Shelburne, VT 05482
"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." A.A.Milne, (Winnie the Pooh).
An on-line guestbook can be found at cabotfh.com.4