Roy Norman Winkler

Roy Norman Winkler ROY NORMAN WINKLER (Lt. Col. USAF Ret), age 83, of Hilton Head Island, SC, and formerly Vienna, VA, finished his earthly journey on March 2, 2017, at Hospice Savannah, Savannah, GA. Born April 12, 1933, in Hunterdon Co., NJ, he was the son of Ernest Otto and Minna (Guenther) Winkler, both immigrants from Germany who met in New York City. Graduating from High Bridge (NJ) High School in 1951, Col. Winkler received his Bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in 1955. He was immediately commission as a 2d Lt in the USAF. His training and duty stations included Oklahoma, Cape Cod where all his children were born, Okinawa, and Vietnam. Loving to fly, he always felt very fortunate to be a pilot all 26 years of his military career. His last assignment was at the Pentagon where he was AF liaison to the Civil Air Patrol, continuing to fly. Among his many military recognitions, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Following his Air Force career, he was employed at the Fairfax (VA) Rod and Gun Club. His marriage to Eve Winant ended in divorce in 1994. Col. Winkler loved beautiful guns. He spent many years as a collector and dealer of high-end shotguns. He also was a long-time skeet shooter. His goal was 50 years of skeet shooting and although he only managed 47 years due to health issues, in 2010 he was the Virginia Longevity skeet shooter. He gave up skeet shooting in 2010 due to shoulder issues, just prior to moving to Hilton Head Island from northern Virginia. He also disposed of his collection of shotguns, saying "If I can't shoot them, I might as well not own them". Col. Winkler was raised as a Mason in Okinawa and continued that relationship until his death. He was a life member of the Lodge in Okinawa, his Lodge in northern Virginia where he served as Secretary, and was an associate member of Unanimity Lodge on Hilton Head Island. Col. Winkler became a Shriner in northern Virginia, associating with Kena Shrine in Fairfax, VA. He served as Aide to two Potentates, the Ill. Ron Ashby and the Ill. Bill Hendrix. He served as Captain of the Arab Patrol, the precision drill team unit at Kena, and was named Patrolman of the Year. Col. Winkler was also a member of the Legion of Honor (military Shriners), and the founder of the Kena Shooting Club. He served as a driver for patients from northern Virginia going to Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia. Currently he was a member of the Hilton Head Island Shrine Club and had served as President of that club. In addition to his parents, Col. Winkler was predeceased by daughters Linda and Lisa. Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Sunni Bond, his sister Eleanor Bartnicki of California, son Gary (Laurie) of Clifton, VA, daughter Karen of Dallas, TX, granddaughter Katelyn Winkler of Clifton, VA, grandson Justin (Amber) DeLong of Forney, TX, and three great grandchildren (Lily, Abby, and Jase), stepson Jeff (Suzanne) Bond of Vienna, VA, nephew David Bartnicki (Cari) of California and three great nephews. In addition he is survived by his wife's grandchildren whom he looked upon as his own grandchildren: Diana Bond and fiance‚ Kyle Singleton of Charlotte NC, Carey Franklin of Baltimore MD, and Tricia Franklin of Millersville, MD. Celebration of Life will be at St Andrew by-the-Sea UMC, Hilton Head Island, on Tuesday, March 7 at 3 p.m. Interment of cremains will be at Little Fork Burying Ground, Rixeyville, VA, at a later date. The family wishes to thank the staff of Hospice Savannah for the tender and comforting care they gave Col. Winkler during the last days of his earthly journey. In lieu of flowers, memorial expressions of sympathy may be made to Shriners Hospital, Greenville, SC; Altar Guild of St Andrew by-the-Sea UMC, Hilton Head Island, SC; or Hospice Savannah, Savannah, GA. The Island Funeral Home and Crematory. islandfuneralhome.com.