Edwina Augusta Bailey, “Winnie” ,91, died Saturday morning, January 3rd at 9:50 am at Mar-Ka Nursing Home in Mascoutah, Illinois. Edwina was born in Danville, Arkansas on October 15th, 1923 and moved to Alton, Illinois with adopted parents when she was five years old. She married George Eugene Bailey in December of 1951 and he preceded her in death in 1986. She is survived by daughters Augusta Lee Cox (husband Michael) of Alton and G. Lynnie Bailey of O’Fallon, Illinois. For many years “Winnie” took great pride in her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren: Sarah (husband Mark) Sander of Minneapolis, MN, Joshua (wife Kelly) Cox of Kenosha, WI, Atticus Bailey-Stobbs of Chicago, Illinois, Thackeray Bailey Stobbs and August William, “Gus” Bailey Stobbs of O’Fallon, Illinois. Great grandchildren: Caleb and Liam Bailey-Stobbs, Eliana,Tessa and Kaia Sander, and Grace, McKenna and Charlotte Cox. Winnie also took pride in helping to establish the first Women’s Golf League in Alton and she remained an avid golfer and animal lover until her early 80’s. She will undoubtedly be remembered as a beloved teacher with the Alton School District for 36 years, teaching PE and then English at North Junior High and then moving to Alton High School in 1979 to teach a variety of English classes. Winnie and her husband Gene were students of Dorothy Colonius. While attending Shurtleff College together they became active in Alton Little Theater and became part of the core group of individuals who built the first permanent home of the theater, called The Showplace in the early 1960’s. Winnie appeared in many productions over the years at ALT and most identified with and loved the role of “Weezer” in STEEL MAGNOLIAS.
A Memorial Service will be held at Gent Funeral Home on State Street in Alton on Sunday, January 11th at 2pm. In lieu of flowers the family would suggest memorials could be made to the 5A’s, the Alzheimer’s Association, Alton Little Theater, or a charity of choice.
