Robert N. Wing, a former Lewiston city councilor, weather observer, vintner and writer, died Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, from ravages of old age. He was 89.
He had been deaf for many years and was diagnosed recently with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The help of friends made it possible for him to remain in his Lewiston Orchards home, however, until one of those friends had him delivered to the hospital about a week ago. He died in his sleep at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston.
Although he was active in many fields, including left-of-center politics, he is probably best remembered now as a dedicated grower of grapes and producer of respected wines, both red and white.
He was born July 26, 1922, in Seattle and married Dorothy Slye in 1944 at Flagstaff, Ariz., while he was working for the Park Service and she for the Social Security Administration.
A U.S. Navy veteran who had sailed aboard the USS Enterprise, he arrived in Lewiston with his wife and two daughters, Nancy and Susan, in 1955. On the Enterprise he had served as a meteorologist, and that is how his duties began at the Lewiston airport. He had worked for the weather service previously in Seattle, Flagstaff, Ely, Nev., and Ellensburg, Wash.
Retirement gave him time for hiking, mountain climbing, oil painting, growing grapes and making wine - all with fierce enthusiasm. During those years he indulged in two other loves: politics and music. He wrote numerous letters to the editor; he ran vigorously but unsuccessfully for the Lewiston School Board and later, successfully, for the Lewiston City Council.
He became a collector of recorded music, much of which he recorded himself. After he had acquired some high-tech equipment. He and Dorothy packed it to numerous concerts and recorded them "live." During one period in this busy life he hosted a KOZE radio music program and his collection of vinyl recordings still occupies one wall of his dining room.
One of his friends, recalling a wine tasting in a room overlooking Wing's vineyard, described him as "the happiest man I know."
He is survived by his daughters, Susan Wing of Lewiston and Nancy Phipps of East Wenatchee, and two grandsons, Jonathan Ross of Lewiston and Christopher Phipps of Seattle.
Dorothy Wing died Sept. 10, 2001.
Wing preferred no funeral, but some friends have said there may be a memorial service soon.
