Winger, former Owen manager, dies

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 1/30/2008 12:37:00 PM

Flat Rock, N.C. – Industry veteran Stephen Winger died Jan. 24 at age 60 of cancer.

Winger was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and studied with the Lacoste Institute in Paris, France. He began his career at Dan River, moving on to Beacon Manufacturing in Dallas, Bibb in Chicago and then Owen Manufacturing in Swannanoa, N.C., where he spent 15 years and managed the Wal-Mart and Kmart accounts.

In addition to his parents, Maurice Winger Jr. and Virginia McNabb Winger of Asheville, N.C., he is survived by his two children, Caroline Elizabeth "Carly" Winger and Daniel Winger of Asheville; his former wife, Teresa Murphy Winger of Asheville; a brother, Eric "Rick" Winger and his wife, Linda, of Savannah, Georgia; two nephews and two cousins.

A memorial service was held Jan. 27 at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, N.C.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Manna Food Bank, 627 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, NC 28805, Four Seasons Hospice, 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731 or Pardee Hospital, 800 North Justice Street, Hendersonville, NC 28791.