Tucker Street alumnus and longtime Ravenscroft supporter Charles Winston Sr. ’47 passed away on Feb. 9, 2021.

Charles attended primary school at Ravenscroft alongside his siblings, the late Jane Winston Witherspoon ’46 and the late James Winston ’51. He attended the Augusta Military Academy in Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He went on to serve as an officer in the U.S. Air Force until 1955.

In returning to civilian life, Charles, with the support of his wife, Florence, quickly made his mark on Raleigh through his partnership with Thad Eure Jr. In 1960 they opened the Angus Barn — which remains today one of the Triangle’s most iconic restaurants — and, later, two well-known North Carolina brands, Pizza Inn and Darryl’s, which would become popular national chains. His foray into the hotel industry in 1985 resulted in another successful brand, Winston Hotels.

His love for Raleigh also led him to invest his time and talents in his community. Charles served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the North Carolina American Cancer Society, the Rex Hospital Foundation and the North Carolina Museum of History Associates. He honored his belief in the value of education by serving as board chair of Saint Mary’s School and as a member of Ravenscroft’s Trustee Advisory Committee. Among their numerous accolades for their contributions to the community, Charles and Florence were inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame in 2011.

The Winstons’ connection to Ravenscroft has deepened over the years. Their three children — Marion ’76, Charles Jr. ’78 and Bob ’80 — and seven grandchildren have attended Ravenscroft as well. Charles and Florence also established the Charles M. Winston Sr. Student Support Fund. The school’s Lower School library and the Newton Road entrance have both been named in their honor. Following their parents’ example of service and leadership, Charles Jr. and Bob have served as trustees of the school.

In 2012, Charles Sr. was honored with Ravenscroft’s Distinguished Alumni Award. In a video featuring Tucker Street alumni, made that same year as part of the school’s 150th anniversary celebration, he said that the Ravenscroft of today reminds him of the Ravenscroft of his time because of “the caliber of the staff and the teachers, the curriculum and what they tried to accomplish, which was a good student who would succeed in life. I’m a big salesman for Ravenscroft because of the results I see.”

A private burial will be held at Oakwood Cemetery, followed by a private funeral service at Christ Episcopal Church in Raleigh at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20. The service will be livestreamed and recorded by Island Sound and also available via Brown-Wynn Funeral Home.

Read Charles Winston Sr.’s obituary here.