"She didn't know a stranger," said her son Charles Winston Jr. "And it showed every day."
Winston died March 30.
The New Jersey native became engaged to Raleigh native Charles Winston after just five dates, with the couple marrying in 1957. Three years later, the Winston's co-founded Angus Barn with Thad and Alice Eure.
"We all were raised out there at the Angus Barn, and it was just a great childhood to grow up," Winston Jr. said.
From the beginning, Florence and Alice had hands-on roles, particularly notable at the time.
"They were hostesses. They helped the waitresses. They ran the front of the house," Winston Jr. said. "They did the back office, counting money, taking bank deposits back in the early days."
The Winston's eventually sold their share of the restaurant to the Eure family and pursued other ventures in the restaurant industry.
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"They had a restaurant chain called Darryl's, and they were very popular back in the '70s and '80s. And they would go and build the Darryl's, and they designed, built, and ran (them). They say behind every great man is a better woman, and that was the definition. My mother, she made my dad a hell of a lot better," said Winston Jr..
Their work ethic and success left a lasting impression on their son, who has carved out his own place in the Triangle's dining scene with popular restaurant Winston's Grille.
"They were kind, and they were friendly, and people enjoyed working for them," Winston Jr. said. "And I tried to emulate that as I got into business was try to take care of your people because they'll take care of you."
Outside Florence's work in the restaurant industry, she was well-known for her community activism.
"She was on the Rex Hospital Guild," Winston Jr. said. "She would deliver poinsettias every Christmas to patients at the hospital and to neighbors and friends."
Florence was also active with Christ Episcopal Church and was inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame alongside her husband in 2011. For Winston, recalling his parents also means remembering their partnership.
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"They were like 'Frick and Frack,'" he said. "Where my dad was, my mom was. And where my mom was, my dad was. So, you know, now they're back together. And I'll tell you what, I know he's happy."
The Eure and Winston families have remained close through the years. In a social media post announcing her passing, the restaurant wrote in part:
Alongside Thad and Alice Eure, Flo and Charles Winston co-founded The Angus Barn, as well as several other landmark businesses across North Carolina. A true creative force, Flo brought warmth, vision, and genuine hospitality to everything she touched.
When The Angus Barn opened in June 1960, its location was considered far beyond the edge of Raleigh -- so rural that many questioned whether it would survive. Yet within just a few years, it became a destination, known for its hearty fare and welcoming spirit, capturing the hearts of a growing community.