Winston Datcher, 91, of Nanjemoy, Maryland.

Winston Datcher departed this earthly life and entered eternal rest on Thursday October, 27, 2022, surrounded by family.  Winston, affectionately known as " Granddad ," was born to Sydney and Mary Datcher in Nanjemoy, Maryland on October 31, 1930.

Winston accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age. He was baptized and became of member of Mount Hope Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend C. R. Alexander.  He was active in the church choir at an early age.

He married the love of his life, Arnetta Smith, on February 26, 1950.  From that union they were blessed with six children.  They were married for 72 years and 8 months and he was a very devoted husband and father.

He attended public schools in Charles County, Maryland.  Winston held various jobs before being employed at the Naval Ordinance Station in Indian Head, Maryland.  His last position was Explosive Inspector.  After his retirement from the Federal Government, he went on to work at the National Colonial Farm in Accokeek, MD for an additional 20+ years, retiring a second time in 2009.  Loved by all of his co-workers, he was presented with a sweatshirt that read "The Legend has Retired."

Winston was a quiet, caring, mild mannered man who was admired and respected by everyone he met.   He enjoyed playing horse shoes, poker, and bingo with family and friends.  While he would go to Casinos, he really only enjoyed watching everyone play the slots.  He beamed with pride and loved having his family around, picnicking in the back yard, celebrating holidays and birthdays together at the family home.

He also loved to travel with his family.  Every summer he took his young family to Atlantic City or Wildwood, New Jersey, as well as local beaches (Sea Gull Beach, Sparrow's Beach and Carr's Beach).  When his children reached adulthood, he and Arnetta decided to take their first trip alone, driving to Orlando, Florida.  However, missing family so much, they returned home only a few days later.  From then on, trips included their children and grand children, and as the family grew, great grandchildren.  All his children had to do was put together the trip and he was on board with it.  There were many road trips to Orlando, Florida and Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Other road trips included Miami and Key West Florida, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Omaha, Nebraska, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, with a stop in Tunica, Mississippi, and Denmark & Columbia, South Carolina. He was always curious about what a cruise was like, and in 2012 he embarked on a cruise to the Bahamas with a group of family and friends.  He was a great lover of Jazz Music.  In 2013 he traveled to the Newport Jazz Festival.  He spoke about this trip often; so happy that he was able to experience it live.

He loved to spend time outdoors and taking care of the yard.  He believed in keeping his cars showroom clean.  He did not like anyone eating in his car, and if he carried people in the back seat, he always assigned where each person would sit in order to distribute the weight evenly.  His kids really got a kick out of that.  His cars were always in tip top shape and lasted longer than average.

Winston was preceded in death by his son, Winston, Jr., and great-granddaughter, Zuri, sister, Florence and 9 brothers, Sydney, William, Milton, Chester, Frank, Rudolf, Reginald, Phillip, and Charles.

He leaves to cherish sweet memories of him, his loving wife of 72 years, Arnetta, two sons, Randy (Shirley) and Ricky (Irene), three daughters, Claudette (Reuben), Wendy (Ronnie), and Vanessa (Bill), sisters, Geraldine Swann and Marie Young, nephew, Gerald (Mildred) and cousin Mickey (Ruby) with whom he was raised as brothers, and eleven grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Viewing, Saturday, November 5, 2022, 9:00 a.m., until time of Service, 11:00 a.m., at Mt. Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 8705 Gilroy Road, Nanjemoy, Maryland 20662. Interment, Church Cemetery.