Lifelong Southampton Resident Violet Wines Dies

The following obituary was submitted on behalf of the Wines family and edited for style. 

Violet A. Wines, of Southampton, died peacefully at home on Dec. 3, 2013. She was 88 years old. 

Wines was born in Southampton on Feb. 3, 1925, and was the only daughter of John B. Albright and Maude Von Berg. Her father died when she was 3 years old and in 1932 her mother married Frederick L. Doering. Wines attended Southampton public schools and studied art and fashion design in New York City during World War II. 

At age 14, Wines began a lifelong romance with Roy L. Wines, Jr., also of Southampton. They were married in 1947 and remained in Southampton where they raised two children. Together they operated a successful plumbing and heating business. Wines served as the corporate secretary and principal bookkeeper. She also owned and operated The Bath Shop, a retail bath accessory and design business in Southampton, for nearly 20 years. 

Wines always provided strong assistance and support to her husband who became active in local government and civic organizations, including his three terms as Mayor of Southampton Village. Wines, however, played a major role in many civic activities in her own right and was a first recipient of the Mayors Citizen Recognition Award in 2001 for her contributions. 

Wines served as president and treasurer of the Village Improvement Association of Southampton, as a volunteer at Southampton Hospital, and as a board member at the Southampton Historical Museum. Wines was a Past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, a board member of the local Red Cross, and was honored by the Southampton Rotary Club as a Paul Harris Fellow. In addition, Wines was a founding member of the Southampton Cotillion Club and a corporate member at Bullhead Yacht Club. 

Beyond her civic involvement, Wines was a devoted 60 year member of the Southampton United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school in the 1960s, sang in the choir, attended Bible Study classes, organized many activities, and cooked for church suppers. From 1996 until 2007, Wines worked nearly full time as the volunteer administrative assistant in the church office. Beginning in 1997 and continuing through until completion in 2000, she served as the chairperson for the committee that oversaw the construction of the church education building that now houses The Children’s School. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wines were deeply devoted to their family and a very wide circle of friends. They frequently entertained aboard Riptide, their beloved boat, or at the Red Rambler, a rustic home in Vermont. Over the years, she brought into their home and cared for several of their aging parents and relatives. 

Wines was well known as an excellent cook and baker. She was equally adept as a seamstress, a skill she learned from her mother who owned a sewing shop where Fellingham’s Restaurant is today. Wines made the uniforms for the Southampton Town Militia in celebration of the U.S. bicentennial and for many years thereafter. It was not unusual for Wines to reupholster furniture or to be found hanging wallpaper in her home. In her free time, Mrs. Wines loved to explore her artistic talents by painting, knitting, or crocheting afghan blankets. She was also a prolific reader of novels and enjoyed playing bridge. 

Wines was predeceased by her husband and a brother, James F. Doering. She is survived by her two sons, Roy L. Wines III, and John F. Wines; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law and her husband, Arlene and Emil DePetris. 

A funeral service was held at the Hamptons United Methodist Church in Southampton on Monday, December 9 with Reverend Jack K. King officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Hamptons United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 160 Main Street, Southampton, NY 11968 or to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1078, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.