From Mark Winner,

"Dad’s surgery went even better than expected yesterday morning, by lunchtime he was talking to us and his color looked good.  By nighttime he was sitting up in bed, talking, smiling and laughing with us.  We said, “Good night, we love you, we’ll see you in the morning.”  He was doing remarkably well and considered “out of the danger period.” 

"At 6:20 this morning he was asked by the nurse if he would like to get out of bed and sit in the chair.  He smiled and said, “Absolutely.”  They helped him into the chair, and within two minutes he was talking.  Suddenly his heart stopped beating and after 40 minutes of trying they could not resuscitate him. 

"It was sudden and the grief is challenging, but we also know that he was and is in God’s hands and as mom said, “God doesn’t make mistakes.”

"Thank you to all who have been praying for Dad.  We very much appreciate it.  We know we will see him again and we are certainly looking forward to that day."

The funeral was held Sunday, January 20 in Birmingham, Alabama.