Winford William Hays

Winford William "Shorty" Hays, 81, of Weirton, passed away Friday, August 15, 2008 at the Weirton Medical Center. Born February 20, 1927 in Mundey, Wirt County, WV, he was the son of the late Doris Hays Roberts. With 43 years of service, Winford retired from Tin Mill where he worked in the Electrical Department. He was knighted a Knight of the Golden Horseshoe in the House Chamber of the State Capital in Charleston on May 1941, by W.W. Trent, the State Superintendent of Schools in WV. He graduated from Wirt County High School on May 22, 1945. He was indicted into the United States Army Air Corps Cadets, on March 17, 1944 at the age of seventeen, and was deferred to complete his high school education. After graduation, he took his Air Corp basic training at Kessler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi. After basic training, he was shipped to Guam, where he served in Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron 20th Air Force. He was discharged with an Honorable Discharge on January 2, 1947 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He is Past Master of New Cumberland Lodge #22 AF Past High Priest of Hancock Chapter #14 R.A.M.; Past Commander of Weirton Commandry #30 K.T. He was awarded the Knight Templar Cross of Honor. He is Past Prior of West Virginia Priory #40, K.Y.C.H., where he now serves as Registrar. In 1969, he joined Osiris Shrine Temple and served as President of the Northern Panhandler Shrine Club in 1978. He is a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Wheeling, where he is a Past Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection; Past Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix; Past Commander of the Council of kadosh. Also, he is a life member of the Scottish Rite Research Society. He was coronated a 33rd degree Mason in Washington D.C. in October 1995. He is a Past Excellent Chief of Knight Mason Council #7; Past Puissant Sovereign of Mountain State Conclave Red Cross of Constantine; Past Sovereign Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees Saint Lawrence the Martyr council #21; Past Preceptor Mount Calvary Tabernacle #XIX; Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest; member Royal Order of Scotland; member of Royal Order of Jesters #13; member Union Council #2 Steubenville, OH; member Super Excellent Masters Degree, Steubenville, Ohio and of West Virginia. He is presently serving Deputy Grand Lecture of the Grand Royal Arch Masons of West Virginia. He is a charter member of the Fort Henry York Rite College #61, where he is a Past Governor and served as the second Secretary for many years. He helped start Fort Steuben York Rite College #194 in Steubenville, Ohio where he is serving Treasurer. He received the Order of the Purple Cross in Baltimore, MD, in July 1990. He is Past Patron Weirton Chapter #147 and member El Tor Grotto. He is Past Grand Royal Patron of the Grand Court of West Virginia Order of the Amaranth. He is Vice President of the convention of Anointed High Priest of West Virginia. He is a member of the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. He is Past Governor of the Loyal Order of the Moose, where he received the Highest Degree named Pilgrim Degree of Merit. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles; life member American Legion Post 10, Weirton; life member Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 2716, Weirton; member of Weirton World War II Last Man's Club; member Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge and the Cedar Lodge Follansbee; member of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Weirton, and has served as the church's Lay member of the West Virginia Annual Conference for many years. Winford is survived by his wife, Barbara Jean Kraina Hays, whom he married on April 28, 1959; his son Fred William Hays and Rita of Kettering, OH; his three daughters, Tammy and Edward Zivic of Chesapeake, VA, Gina and Robert Monte of Bethel Park, PA, Tricia and Chad Lamantia of Colliers, WV; his two brothers Noel W. Roberts of Elizabeth, WV, Robert Roberts and wife Mary Ann of Coolville, OH; his two sisters Edrie "Jean" Reels of Uniontown, OH, Priscilla Bauercamper and husband Charles of Cutler, OH; and his five grandchildren, Alissa Marie Monte, Matthew Robert Monte, Edward Braxton Hays Zivic, Noelle Loren Hays Lamantia, and Anessa Marie Hays Zivic. Friends will be received Sunday and Monday 1-3 and 6-8 PM at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton where funeral services will be celebrated 1PM Tuesday. Jodi Kraina will officiate. Entombment will follow at the Highland Hill Memorial Gardens, Follansbee, WV, with services conducted by the American Legion and the Weirton Honor Guard, and the New Cumberland Lodge # 22 AF & AM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 2 Gate Way Center North Suite 13 Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Share tributes and memories at www.grecohertnick.com