MSgt. Lawrence “Larry” Winkler, beloved husband, father, friend, and family member passed away just before 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
Larry Winkler had a quick wit and a big heart, attributes that will be fondly remembered at a come-and-go “Celebration of Life” Memorial Service: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, March 25 at the old Dido firehouse on McRee Road.
Larry was born on June 28, 1936 in the coastal city of New London, Connecticut and grew up in a large, close-knit family in nearby Groton. Despite being raised in “The Submarine Capital of the World”, Larry enlisted in the Air Force and served for 24 years retiring as a master sergeant at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas. Larry’s service took him from upstate New York (Plattsburgh) to Madrid, Spain with one-year deployments in Guam and The Philippines. Larry served his country with honor and distinction earning numerous commendations and awards.
After his military service, Larry built a life in Texas working for Halliburton and Trinity Industries. In his spare time, he was a volunteer firefighter at the Morris Dido firehouse, a poker enthusiast and an avid woodworker who maintained an enviable woodshop. A lifelong mechanic, he could fix just about anything. Despite his numerous hobbies, Larry was most enthusiastic about his family which included three granddaughters and three great-granddaughters whom he adored.
Larry is preceded in death by his mother and father, Victor F. and Marie (Meracle) Winkler; his first wife, Cynthia May (Williams) Winkler; brothers, Joey, Victor Jr., Charlie and Max; and his oldest sister, Alice (Winkler) Murphy.
He is survived by a brother, Ernest “Gus” Winkler; sister, Lucille (Winkler) McKenzie; numerous nieces and nephews; his wife, Anita (Hughes) Winkler; daughter, Tina (Winkler) Smith; son, Steven Winkler; step-son, David Starnes and his wife, Consuelo; granddaughters, Chelsey (Smith) Hennesay and her husband, Chris, Cordelia Starnes, and Deianeira (Starnes) Pilotte and her husband, Chris; his cherished great-granddaughters include Blaklee Hennesay, Kambrynn “Kam” Smith, and Lakyn Hennesay.
