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Putnam, Connecticut

Wayne Vinal Obituary

Wayne Lee Vinal February 23, 1938 - May 11, 2012 Eastford - Wayne Lee Vinal, 74, of Eastford, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ surrounded by his family on May 11, 2012. He leaves his loving wife of 50 years, Effie J. (Lane) Vinal; two sons, Richard and wife Amy of Woodstock, Timothy and wife Mary Jo of Owenton, KY; four daughters, Jeanne Griswold and husband Kirk of Newmanstown, PA; Christine Hustus and husband David of Eastford; Brenda Ng and husband Jerry of Puyallup, WA and Faith Pollina and husband David of Gozo, Malta. He also leaves adopted son, Dave Alisentono and wife Kathy of Lewisville, TX; three adopted daughters, Svitlana Lukyanchenko and Tetyana Lukyanchenko, both of Eastford and Veronica Mironova of Donets'ka Oblast', Ukraine; two sisters, Alice Congdon of Woodstock and Faye Rogers of San Diego, CA; mother-in-law, Leona Lane of Woodstock; 20 grandchildren and one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by infant daughter, Amanda; infant grandson, Joseph Vinal; four brothers, Guy Jr., Louis, Paul and John and one sister, Barbara. He was born in Bangor, Maine, February 23, 1938 the son of the late Guy and Dorothy (Cronin) Vinal and had made his home in Eastford for the past 50 years. He was a 1956 graduate of Woodstock Academy. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1958 where he served four years. He returned to Connecticut and enrolled at Ellis Tech Aircraft Maintenance Program, graduating in 1965. He then enlisted in the CT Army National Guard at Groton, CT, where he maintained aircraft for 23 years. After retiring from the guard, he returned to Ellis Tech as an instructor and trained aircraft mechanics for 17 years, retiring in 2011. In 2011, he was awarded the Charles Taylor Award for 50 years of service in aviation. He was a faithful member of Eastford Baptist Church where he served as a youth group leader, a mission board member, executive board member and hospitality committee member where he was affectionately known to many as "Grampa Donuts." He actively participated in missions, traveling to Suriname and Ukraine. He served his community for more than 40 years on the parade committee, organizing the annual Memorial Day Parade. In 1987, he began the tradition of honoring a veteran each year on Memorial Day. In 2011, he was awarded this honor by the Town of Eastford. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, May 19, at 4:00 pm, at the Eastford Baptist Church, 133 Union Rd., Eastford, CT. Because of his involvement in missions and youth work, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to one of the following: Eastford Baptist Missions Fund or Eastford Baptist Teen Club, 133 Union Rd., Eastford, CT 06242. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" 2 Timothy 4:7-8 To share a memory with his family, "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com

Published by Norwich Bulletin on May 15, 2012.
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Memories and Condolences
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Mr. Vinal was a great teacher, a Role Model and most importantly a great human. he helped a lot of people by guiding them through not only their practical life but also to built strong moral values in their life by not only sharing his views and values but also leading by example through his actions. A great man, who will be remembered for his good deeds and actions that touched lot of lives to bloom...

Iftikhar Ahmad

Student

May 9, 2019

My condolences to the family. I did not know Mr. Vinal, but I have had the privilege of knowing his daughter Faith the last few years, and it sounds like she inherited her wonderful character and giving heart from her dad. The world is blessed and touched by people like these.

Jennifer Long

May 20, 2012

I am sending our hugs and prayers to you in Christian love. We shall never forget his many kindnesses to us when we moved to Eastford so many years ago.

RoJeanne Doege

May 19, 2012

he was a beacon for the christian way of life.
God loved him and his family, so did I.
May he rest in peace eternal.

Ramsey Tarabishy(Pomfret, CT)

May 19, 2012

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.

Donna Goyette

May 18, 2012

Wayne was a good and decent man. Wayne maintained my aircraft and I flew him around our support area as he repaired the flight simulators (Link Trainers)when he worked for the CTNG.

Red LaFantasie

May 17, 2012

Wayne you will be missed,a man of kind words and a big heart. A wing, that he would lend you freely to guide and help you find your way in the world. A true leader of all people and a friend.

charles larkins

May 16, 2012

Wayne was such a good man. He would always make me smile as he taught me Russian words each day at Ellis. My thoughts and prayers go out to all his family.

Jessica Bibeau

May 16, 2012

a great man you where. thank you for teaching me how to use a wrench the correct way.

alex f

May 16, 2012

You will be missed Mr. Vinly. Words can say how you moved something inside of me, when you were teaching us here at Ct Aero Tech. Thank you for your years of service to the school and the aviation community.

Max Kamm

May 16, 2012

"Mr. Wayne was a great teacher and very knowledgeable professional. He had a style of his own. I am sure he will be remembered for his services and for all great deeds he did to contribute to the students careers and to the society..."

iftikhar Ahmad

May 16, 2012

It has been my honor to have known and worked with Wayne and the other instructors at Ellis Tech and the new CT Aero Tech as one of the people on the advisory committee. Wayne always had a positive attitude and conveyed that to everyone around him.
He will be greatly missed in the aviation community.

Gary Gillette

May 16, 2012

i worked with wayne at kaman in the 80s he was my friend a man that was all around nice guy bless you mr. vinal

peter bruscato

May 15, 2012

We miss you Wayne but are happy to know you are home with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who you knew and loved. And that you are with my Mother also and we will all be together again one day.

Nancy Pratt

May 15, 2012

Whenever I think of people who have made an impact on my life Wayne and Effie have always been at the top of my list. Wayne was a true example of what it means to live a life in the Lord and for the Lord. I know he has touched many people in his lifetime and left behind many memories of his love, kindness, and a compassion. I consider him one of my best friends and will miss him very much and remember him always. “When someone you love becomes a memory; that memory becomes a treasure” and he was, is, and always be! My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Trish Grist

Trish Grist

May 15, 2012

Your family is in my thoughts and prays. Will miss all his stories he would share with us here at Ellis Tech.

Linda Bettencourt

May 15, 2012

R.I.P Uncle Wayne...send my love to my father for me

Jennifer Vinal

May 15, 2012

rest in peace we love you

wendy roy

May 15, 2012

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