One of the volunteers on Thursday afternoons is the petite and lovely Walena Breeding, better known to most as Winnie. Born and raised in Letcher County, Kentucky, she grew up in a family of six children. Her sisters have unusual names, too, but not her brothers! As a boarding student, she attended Midway Pinkerton High School and two years at Midway College. At that time, Midway College was a junior college for women only. Now, it is coed and called Midway University, and Winnie serves on the alumni board.
After Midway, Winnie worked for several years as a billing clerk for Montgomery Ward. Married with two children, she chose to be a stay-at-home Mom for a few years. Eventually, she began her long, 31 year career with the Federal Government. She worked in several departments including human resources, soil conservation, public affairs and IT. Among other tasks, she wrote press releases and newsletters, but her final position was the Management Information Systems Coordinator, also known as Webmaster.
Upon retirement in 2019, and after Covid, Winnie had taken her little doggie, Maggie, a seven pound rescue, to the veterinary clinic next to the former location of Military Missions. From that moment on, she became a volunteer a MM. She wanted to contribute to a worthy cause, and as her father, who earned a Purple Heart and Silver Star, served in the Army in World War II, Military Missions became her cause. Winnie also volunteers for Natalie’s Sisters, a safe place for women who have experienced trauma – abuse, rape, prostitution, trafficking. She packs up clothes for them at Gardenside Christian Church. In July, she helped build a house for Lexington Habitat for Humanity.
When she is not helping with her four grand daughters, Winnie loves to travel, sew, decorate, garden, cook for family and friends, and she’s also taking Pickleball lessons! Here’s Winnie at Keeneland and her little doggie, Maggie!
Winnie
January 19, 2026
One of the volunteers on Thursday afternoons is the petite and lovely Walena Breeding, better known to most as Winnie. Born and raised in Letcher County, Kentucky, she grew up in a family of six children. Her sisters have unusual names, too, but not her brothers! As a boarding student, she attended Midway Pinkerton High School and two years at Midway College. At that time, Midway College was a junior college for women only. Now, it is coed and called Midway University, and Winnie serves on the alumni board.
After Midway, Winnie worked for several years as a billing clerk for Montgomery Ward. Married with two children, she chose to be a stay-at-home Mom for a few years. Eventually, she began her long, 31 year career with the Federal Government. She worked in several departments including human resources, soil conservation, public affairs and IT. Among other tasks, she wrote press releases and newsletters, but her final position was the Management Information Systems Coordinator, also known as Webmaster.
Upon retirement in 2019, and after Covid, Winnie had taken her little doggie, Maggie, a seven pound rescue, to the veterinary clinic next to the former location of Military Missions. From that moment on, she became a volunteer a MM. She wanted to contribute to a worthy cause, and as her father, who earned a Purple Heart and Silver Star, served in the Army in World War II, Military Missions became her cause. Winnie also volunteers for Natalie’s Sisters, a safe place for women who have experienced trauma – abuse, rape, prostitution, trafficking. She packs up clothes for them at Gardenside Christian Church. In July, she helped build a house for Lexington Habitat for Humanity.
When she is not helping with her four grand daughters, Winnie loves to travel, sew, decorate, garden, cook for family and friends, and she’s also taking Pickleball lessons! Here’s Winnie at Keeneland and her little doggie, Maggie!