Command Sergeant Major, Retired, Bill Richard Winget, 68, of Lake City, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2024 at the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville after a brief illness. He was born in Gowanda, New York on December 7, 1955 to the late Roy Winget and Nita Chadwick Winget.

He grew up in the Haines City area of Florida and graduated from Haines City High School in 1973, where he was a part of the very first JROTC class of the school.  After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. In 1974, Winget was one of the original 500 members of the 1st Ranger Bn, 75th Ranger Regiment, which set the standards for the regiment and the Army at large.  CSM Winget served in the Ranger department for the next 12 years, serving as a Ranger instructor at the Florida Ranger Camp for 8 of those years.  CSM Winget retired in 1996 as the Command Sergeant Major of the 2-502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, KY.  He returned to Haines City High School as the JROTC instructor for ten years. In his spare time, he enjoyed bowling, fishing, hunting and shooting pool.

He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Laurie D. Winget; son, Chadwick "Chad" Winget (Victoria "Tori"); sisters, Janet Larence (Rick), Sara Holloway and Nancy Sharples; brother, Frank Winget and his brother-in-law, Larry Laney. Numerous cousins, nieces and nephews also survive.  He is preceded in death by his sister, Evelyn Laney and his brother-in-law, Tony Holloway.

A celebration of life service for CSM (R) Winget will be conducted on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. in the Gateway-Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel with Dr. Mike Tatem Officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:00 P.M. prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will take place at a later date in the Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations please be considered to the Sua Sponte Foundation.