Winifred Green
Winifred Green, beloved mother and longtime community steward, passed away on November 29, 2022, at the age of 93. She is survived by her children, Floyd and Stella and a legacy of dedication to her community.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised across the Ohio River in an area now known as Tomlinson Run, Winn had an idyllic childhood including annual visits from Santa who arrived in a horse drawn sled. She married her sweetheart, Merl Jones, and they traveled across the country with a teardrop trailer and a motorcycle, fell in love with the southwest and built their dream house in Globe, Arizona. Their life together ended when Merl died unexpectedly at 29, less than a year after Winn’s mother passed. This was the darkest time in Winn’s life and she survived it with the help of her church and friends. Winn asked the minister’s wife how all this kindness could ever be repaid and was told: It can’t, but you can help someone else. Winn repeated that story often as she strived to help others.
Moving to Phoenix in 1960, Winn married Frank Green. The couple had two children, Floyd and Stella. Sharing a love for antiques, they established the Antique Outpost on Cave Creek Road in 1967 and operated it for 52 years. After Frank’s passing in 2017 Winn kept the shop open until suffering a stroke in 2019. She loved working with people and she appreciated the antiques not just for their value, but also for the history and lives they represented.
Winn devoted her spare time, energy and abilities to her community. A founding member of the Sunnyslope Village Alliance, she served as a twoterm president of the SVA and was involved in block watch training. At one of these meetings she met four young mothers who told her NW Sunnyslope had no safe place for their children to play. She promised them a youth center, which became a reality when a parcel of land became available and Winn successfully applied for a grant to buy it. The neighborhood gained a popular PALS center with computers and a half basketball court. Later the city purchased an adjacent parcel and created a park with a playground and green space. Winn served as chairperson of the Park Advisory Committee. In 2007, the city of Phoenix surprised and honored her by naming it the Winifred Green Park. At the dedication she was quick to give credit to the parks department employees and councilperson Bilstein.
Winn was also behind many other Sunnyslope improvements like street lights and sidewalks (one has a bronze plaque honoring her). A frequent speaker at city council meetings, she also served on a Phoenix Police Department Disciplinary Review and Use of Force Board. In 2009, at 80, she traveled to Tampa with a 15 member delegation to compete in the All American City contest where Phoenix won for the fifth time.
Some of her other volunteer work included being a greeter at First Christian Church, community improvement projects through First Christian Church, Citizens bond committee, Citizens Advisory Committee, Sunnyslope Family Services Center Advisory Board, Community Council and the Fight Back program.
Winifred Green was committed to helping young people and always encouraging others to get involved in their community. She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to the Sunnyslope Historical Society in Winn’s honor. Please visit www.hansenmortuary.com for online condolences.