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Greta Basil Winegar entered eternal rest on Sept 15, 2016. She was born in Bethlehem, Palestine on Mar 14, 1938. Preceded in death by her father Khalil Toufic Basil and her mother Mary Masso, as well as her brother Eduardo Toufic Basil and husband Richard Winegar, she is survived by her sister Diana Basil Gissel of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; her four sons, Robert Charles of Seattle, Richard Frederick and wife Bianca of San Antonio, Frank Erick and wife Lynda of Ashburn, VA and William Edward and wife Kris of Pattison, TX. Greta is also survived by her six grandchildren Zachary Cain and Erica Lauren of San Antonio, Austin Robert and Christopher William of Ashburn, VA and Edward Jacob and William Benjamin of Pattison; one great-grandchild Richard Aiden of San Antonio; niece Greta Gissel and daughter Isabel of Coeur d'Alene, ID; niece Leila Gissel-Rasher, her husband Keith and sons Jonathan, Jack and Jake of Seattle. Greta had a very fascinating upbringing. The daughter of a talented seamstress and prominent photographer in 1930s Bethlehem, she was born in the family homestead by midwife. In 1948 at the age of 10, heavy armed conflict in Palestine forced her family to escape to the mountains of Lebanon. There she attended elementary school where she was taught French and Arabic by local nuns. After completing high school in 1954, the family fled the war-torn region to be with family in South America. They travelled by ship from the port of Beirut through the straights of Gibraltar to Buenos Aires, then crossed the Andes to Santiago, Chile by coal train. The 2 week voyage was one of her fondest memories of childhood. In 1957 after a few years in Chile, her family travelled again by ship, this time thru the Panama Canal, and eventually made their way to Matamoros, Mexico. In 1960, while working in a curio shop there, she met her American husband Richard, who told her she was the most beautiful "Mexican" he'd ever seen. They started a family in Corpus Christi in 1961, then settled down in San Antonio in 1962 where she raised their 4 children. In 1968 she worked at Hemisfair in the Paper Pavillion where she performed hostess and translation duties. She was very involved with her family in scouting and little league. She taught Spanish classes briefly at John Glen Elementary. She was fascinated by history, language and culture. Greta was an exceptional cook and often made Lebanese dishes handed down from her mother which were relished by her husband and boys. She worked as a Cosmetic consultant at JCPenney for 15 years until her retirement in 2003. She enjoyed opera, the symphony and even some of the popular music she was exposed to by her sons. A memorial service will be held on Saturday Sept 24, 11am at New Braunfels Christian Church, 734 North Loop 337, New Braunfels, TX

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Greta Katherine Basil Winegar

March 14, 1938 - September 15, 2016