WINFIELD MASSIE

1928-2018

Winfield Massie passed away on May 17, 2018. He was born on September 15, 1928 in La Cieba, Honduras, where his father, Virginia native, Frank Aubrey Massie, worked as a civil engineer for the Dole Fruit company. His mother, Antoinette Dubois Winfield Massie was from Miami, Florida. As an infant Winfield was taken to Florida. He spent his early childhood living in Miami with his grandparents on their citrus ranch. When his father became a bridge engineer for the State of Virginia, Winfield moved there with his parents and began his education in Virginia public schools. He later attended VES and Hampden Sydney College, graduating at 15. He had an MS in genetics from Virginia Tech University and a DVM from Texas A&M, class of 1956. At TAMU, he was on the pistol shooting team. He was a life member of the NRA and an instructor in gun safety. For a few years he worked in drug research and zoo medicine before returning to Virginia. There he worked for the Virginia Department of Agriculture, retiring after 30 years as Supervisor for the Eastern part of Virginia. During his career he helped to make meat safe for human consumption through the eradication of several livestock diseases in Eastern Virginia: brucellosis, hoof and mouth disease and hog cholera. Diligent inspection practices prevented the introduction of animal diseases from abroad. In retirement, he wrote a book, Jungle Tales: Adventures in Meat Inspection, and was a 20 year docent at the Houston Zoo. Winfield was active in Rotary and the Episcopal Church serving on Vestry for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Rebecca Dragos Massie, two children, Frank D. Massie and Rebecca Massie Kusko and her husband, David Kusko, and 3 grandchildren, Rebecca Elizabeth Kusko, John Massie Kusko and Joseph Winfield Kusko. He never turned down a call for help by someone with a sick animal or a pet in need. He had a lifelong love of animals, the Texas Aggies, target shooting and books. His wit and good humor is missed by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the TAMU vet school, TAMU shooting team or St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church.

Visitation will be Tuesday June 12th from 5-8 PM at Klein Funeral Home, 16131 Champion Forest Drive, Spring TX. 77379 with a Memorial Service on Wednesday May 13th at 3PM at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church 14301 Stuebner Airline Rd, Houston, TX 77069. Interment will be Saturday June 16th, Charlottesville, Virginia, at Maplewood Cemetery, where his ancestors are buried.