Trending
Alice Joanne (Bonnell) Winner, 79, of Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA, formerly of Loyalsock Township, Lycoming County, PA, passed away at home on September 29, 2026 after lengthy battle with Alzheimer's Dementia.
Born March 25, 1947, in Williamsport, PA she was the daughter of John O. and Gladys L. (Connor) Bonnell and the first of two children (daughters). She graduated from Loyalsock Township Junior/Senior in 1965 and was married to Thomas F. Winner on August 13, 1966, at the Market Street Methodist Church, Williamsport, PA. Alice was predeceased by her sister, Linda R. (Bonnell) Giral in 1996.
During her senior year at Loyalsock, she authored a thesis on extremism that drew acclaim in her educational community. She was an excellent student and writer.
Upon graduation, Alice joined Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA), part of The Great Society program run by the federal government. She trained in Salt Lake City, Utah and on the Navajo Indian Reservation, Arizona.
After training, she initially served on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation where she developed friendships and lasting connections. Alice received a permanent assignment on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in Norris, South Dakota where she and another volunteer worked to set up educational programs for the tribe and community. They were instrumental in setting up a Head Start program during the infancy of Head Start. They also conducted tutoring and recreation programs. After a short break to get married, she and her husband returned to South Dakota to continue serving the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in Norris, South Dakota. Federal funding ran out in late 1966 and they returned to Pennsylvania.
During her years as a stay-at-home mother, she was a Den Mother, Youth Group Advisor, Sunday School teacher and often provided a safe haven for youth that were experiencing personal/family problems.
She was a social activist throughout her life quietly working behind the scenes. She spearheaded the creation of the Recreation Commission in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County. She started a partnership with Holiday Inn, Grantville to allow local residents to use their pool during "off hours." She provided a respite for ten people at her home from The Great Peace March.
During 1968, Alice learned to spin (drop spindle) and weave (table looms and eventually an inkle loom). Spinning and weaving became a passion and eventually expanded into natural dying. She owned many spinning wheels and many looms throughout her life. She had accumulated over 1,000 dye samples from experiments she conducted with different plants and mordants. She often stopped along the road to collect plants to use in her experiments to find a new color. She was insatiably curious and always willing to try new things like speed reading. She bought and sold spinning and weaving equipment. She taught many people how to spin and weave. She volunteered at schools, church schools, and various events to help children and adults learn spinning and weaving. She was often found at craft shows selling items she had created and explaining her trade. She was a team member of a Sheep to Shawl group for several years before that team became the 1983 Pennsylvania Sheep to Shawl Grand Champion at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
In August 1983, her husband's work took her to Allentown, so Alice returned to school earning an Associate of Arts degree from LCCC in 1985, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Kutztown University in 1987, and a Master of Public Administration from Kutztown University in 1993. In 1994, she won the Klucaarits Award for Outstanding MPA Thesis. While at Kutztown University, Alice served as student representative on the Council of Trustees from 1987-88.
Alice's degrees lead her into the Social Welfare field from 1986 to 1996, working for United Way, Headstart and Red Cross. She created the UUServe organization in 1993 in collaboration with the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg. Her UUServe organization worked with Tribal leaders to identify their needs and the UUServe organization recruited many volunteers to serve in summer programs that worked with youth, perform building rehab, and provided summer recreation programming on Sioux/Lakota reservations in South Dakota that she had served as a VISTA volunteer. In late 1996, the UUServe organization became part of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.
Alice had always worked in caregiving fields, so it was not a surprise when she became a professional organizer in 1996 and continued that profession until her retirement in 2008. Alice was an active member of NAPO (National Organization of Professional Organizers) and was recognized for her organizing work by the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. Alice provided organizing materials and training for over 1,000 incarcerated women through The Program For Female Offenders, Inc. Alice was awarded the 2005 Volunteer of the Year by that organization.
Upon retirement she pursued her spinning, weaving, dying passion for the remainder of her life.
She enjoyed traveling and found joy in locations like Peru, England, Scotland, Wales, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Alaska and much of the lower 48.
Grammy's stash of craft materials, fabrics and games always kept her granddaughters busy. The grandchildren's visits during the summers were filled with dress up, fashion shows, summer activities, computers games and playing in the recreation room with things made from Grammy's stash.
Alice is survived by three sons, Duane A. Winner (Emily Beane) of Norristown, PA, Seth A. Winner (Louise Radochinski) of Durham, NC and Adam M. Winner (Emily Monheim) of Avalon, PA; grandchildren, Alexis R. Winner, Sydney V. (Winner) Sklyar and husband Alex Sklyar, Natalie M. Winner, Lydia F. Winner, Ryder O. Winner and great granddaughter, Amelia Alexandra Sklyar.
She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. The grandchildren were always delighted to make things with all the "stuff" in her office. She will be missed!
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Alzheimer's Association, Oliver LaGrone Scholarship Fund via Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, or Sinte Gleska University, Mission, SD.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, 1280 Clover Lane, Harrisburg, PA.