Cindy Lou (Winans) Larson passed away May 5th, 2026 but her many talents as a writer and her love of quick-witted language, as well as her kindness and love toward others, will live on. Born September 14th, 1957, she was the fourth of Ralph and Irene (Buecker) Winans’ daughters. She attended New Haven High School and after graduation, attended business college. She worked at Dana Corporation in administrative positions in Fort Wayne and in Richmond, Virginia. Her love of writing motivated her to complete a degree in journalism from Indiana University. She worked many years at the Fort Wayne News Sentinel as a Copy Editor and as a Feature Writer. In her later years, she did freelance writing for several small newspapers. She was a devoted journalist and a passionate supporter of local news and public media. In her retirement years she enjoyed gardening, reading and boating.

Family meant everything to Cindy. She married Stephen Larson on March 4th, 1989 at St. John the Baptist in New Haven. Together, Steve and Cindy raised two children, Claire and Isaac, and spent many days with them at the Winans lake cottage and later at their own lake cottage. Growing up, Cindy was the youngest of the four sisters. The girls shared joy and laughter, heartbreak and tears. Their annual trips to Fort Meyers Beach were highly anticipated and memorable for laughing fits, beach time and epic shopping trips. Cindy leaves behind a heartbroken family: Her husband Steve; son Isaac (Sara) Larson of Bluffton, IN; daughter Claire (Brian) Yoder of Decatur, IL; two sisters, Lois (John) Larson of Portland, Oregon and Susanne (Larry) Rowe of Fort Wayne, and her precious grandchildren, Oliver, Isabelle, a baby girl due in July, and Luke Yoder. She was preceded in death by her sister, Kay Heck, and her parents, Ralph and Irene Winans. She also loved her many nieces and nephews, lifelong friends, and beloved four-legged pets.

Funeral Services 11:00am Monday May 11, 2026 at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. with visitation on Monday from 10-11am. Visitation also on Sunday from 3-6pm in the funeral home. The family’s preferred memorials are to Fairhaven Foundation (https://fairhavenfoundation.org/) or Humane Fort Wayne (https://humanefw.org/). To share a remembrance of Cindy or to offer condolences to her family, please visit DivineMercyFuneralHome.com.