Yvonne Chryst Winston

Yvonne Chryst Winston of Fullerton, CA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at the age of 88. Yvonne Shirley Chryst was born on October 22, 1935, in Los Angeles, California to Raymond Chryst and Grace Chryst. She was proud to be the eldest of four girls, her sisters; Madelyn, Margo, and Terry-Lynn. Every summer, her parents took the girls camping, where they enjoyed the outdoor activities of swimming, fishing, and cooking. Yvonne always had a great appreciation of nature and passed her love of nature onto her children. She attended Compton High School, where she was voted Prom Queen in her senior year. While working part time as a dental assistant, Yvonne attended Compton Community College 1954-1956 where she met her future husband, the 13th year Class President, Stanley Winston. After Yvonne converted from Catholic to Stanley's Lutheran faith, they were married on August 31, 1956, at Faith Lutheran Church in Hollydale, CA. 

They moved into their first tiny home together in Hollydale, immediately after their short honeymoon in La Jolla, CA. Both Yvonne and Stanley worked at McDonnell Douglas in Los Angeles; Yvonne, as a secretary, and Stan, as a draftsman, until they were laid off with many other workers, right before their oldest daughter, Terry, was born in November 1957. Yvonne transitioned into a full-time homemaker and Stanley took a new job at Hughes Aircraft Company in Fullerton, CA. Daughter, Jeannie was born in July 1959, and after the move to Anaheim, CA, in February 1962, their son, Eric, was born. Yvonne sang in the choir at Lamb of God Lutheran Church, taught Sunday School, was an Altar Guild member, and active as the Chairwoman of Sunkist Nursery School in 1961-1963. Additionally, Yvonne was a Brownie and Girl Scouts leader and actively involved in the PTA. 

In 1968, Yvonne returned to full time work with a position at Guinn Elementary School, in Anaheim, as an Instructional Aide, for the Special Education Class. She continued in this fulfilling work until 1971 when she was promoted to Reading and Math Lab Technician at Guinn Elementary School, and remained in this position until 1979; earning the Parent Teacher Association Honorary Service Award for service to children and youth in 1977. Her next consequential employment in 1981-1986, was as the Coordinator of Volunteers for Lutheran Social Services; setting in place a volunteer department and speaker's bureau for 66 Lutheran Churches in Orange County for upwards of 300 volunteers and applying for funding grants to the United Way. In 1987 Yvonne worked in an office support position at California State University, Fullerton, until 1992, when she took a job as Secretary of the Art Department, at Biola University. She received a Parkinson's diagnosis in May 1993, but persevered in her work as Secretary of the Art Department until 1995. In 1995 Yvonne began a position as the Director of Equipping and Connecting at Messiah Lutheran Church, Yorba Linda, under the guidance of Pastor Bob Mooney, her pastor and son-in-law. She worked with member volunteers; helping them connect their special talents with the many ways to serve. As Yvonne loved working with people, and helping those in need, she found this occupation very rewarding. She retired in 2000.

Aside from a life of service to her family and community, Yvonne’s greatest joy was spending time with people; her family, wonderful friends, and those she worked with. Yvonne’s faith was foremost in her life. She looked forward to going to church every Sunday, and Bible Study with a group, or at home. She loved to sing, sew, cook, bake, garden, and read. Yvonne especially looked forward to “Book Group” get-togethers with her good friends from church. This group of special friends would gather to review and discuss a chosen book nearly every month…for about 40 years! When it was her turn to host, she took it as an opportunity to experiment with a new, delicious, dessert recipe! 

Yvonne had a great sense of fun. She loved to play games with family and friends, especially any card game. She would often win at these games, all the while showing a great sense of humor. Yvonne could see the absurdity in situations and just burst out laughing from time to time. She was also able to laugh at her own foibles. She had a great talent for creating a beautiful, welcoming home. In everything she did Yvonne strove for excellence. A dream that came true for Yvonne and Stan was a two-week, whirlwind trip to Europe with their travel savvy friends; Karen and Tony. Yvonne cherished her family and friends, and in return, they cherished her. 

Yvonne is survived by her husband, Stanley Winston, her sisters, Madelyn, Margo (Don), and Terry-Lynn (Jim), and their children and grandchildren. Yvonne's surviving children are, Terry (Dan), Jeannie (Bob), Eric (Janel), her grandchildren Tyrrell (Coco), Tess, and Ryan (Brittany), and Lauren (Jason), and great grandchildren. In addition, Yvonne is survived by her Sister-In-Law Nancy (Pat) and her nephew Brogan (Rita), niece Ydun (Blake), and nephew Dane, her great nieces and great nephew. Yvonne will be sorely missed by her family and her dear friends. 

A Celebration of Life Service will be held October 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. The location is St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 111 W. Las Palmas Drive, Fullerton, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made in the form of contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (michaeljfox.org), or Parkinson's Foundation (parkinson.org).