James Pratt Winston

OXFORD– James Pratt Winston, 90, of Dave Winston Road, died Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at his home. Born December 11, 1933, in Granville County, he was the son of the late Ruth Gayle Winston and James William Winston. James Pratt Winston, better known as “Pratt”, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and friend. His larger-than-life personality and joy of living was a quality that was admired by all of those who knew him. He was a lifelong dreamer and always viewed the glass as half-full. His dreams and ideas took him “around the world on a mule,” as he would say, but his favorite place was always Grassy Creek. Here, you would find him passing time on his farm, riding tractors, and tinkering in his workshop with many of his “Winston” engineering projects. He adored the Grassy Creek community with his friends, and he always cherished his role as the MC for the famous Grassy Creek Christmas Parade. The only rival to his love for Grassy Creek was his love for his family and his many friends. His charismatic personality was one that never met a stranger. Pratt served in the U.S. Army and then went on to receive an engineering degree from Danville Technical Institute. While he was in college, one of his professors had noted his charisma and encouraged him to become a salesman. This same professor introduced him to a man named Charlie Womack, which started his unique career as a businessman. An accomplished entrepreneur, Pratt joined forces with Charlie Womack and started Weltron Corporation in 1967, located in Durham, NC. Along with Ryuzo Fujita, in 1968, he created the iconic Weltron radio product line, which sold all over the world into the late 70’s. In 1974, Weltron was acquired by Walter Kidde Corporation and moved the operations to Plainville, NY where he was the CEO until 1978. He then retired and moved back to his home in Grassy Creek. In 1980, Pratt founded Winston International Ltd. in Oxford, NC along with his wife, Gwendolyn Winston. Pratt served on the board of the former Central Carolina Bank, Research Triangle Park Economic Development (RTRP) Board, Walter Kidde Company, the Grassy Creek Baptist Church Board of Deacons, and the Granville County Economic Development Board. He was also a member of Adoniram Masonic Lodge 0149 and was a member of Grassy Creek Baptist Church. Pratt is survived by his wife, JoAn Davis Winston; his daughter, Kathryn Winston (J.R. Richardson) of Southport; two sons, John Lee Winston (Anna) of Emerald Isle and Francis Allen Winston (Tammy) of Bullock; twelve grandchildren, Katy Gibson (Garrett), Robert Winston (Becky), Andrew Byrd, Sara Byrd, Sarah Forbes Fox (Jim), Isabel Parker (Shane), Aleea Winston, Mariana Winston, Shana Winston, Allen Winston (Cameron), Jane Winston Hicks (Phillip), and Elizabeth Pratt Clay (Bruce); thirteen great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Thomas Winston of Oxford and Robert Winston of Raleigh. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Gwendolyn Blackwell Winston; a son, James Pratt Winston, II; and a brother, Alex Winston. Memorial services will be held Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 10:30 A.M. at Grassy Creek Baptist Church by the Rev. Radford Frazier and Rev. Cameron Currin. Internment with Masonic and military honors will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren. Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life at the home in Grassy Creek immediately following the services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grassy Creek Baptist Church (Fellowship Hall Fund), 9142 Grassy Creek Rd., Bullock, NC 27507.