Alice Joan Winkler, 90

HARRINGTON - Alice Joan Winkler, of Harrington, died Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial. She was 90. She was born in Ottawa, Canada, to the late John Henry and Alice Eliza Hudson Mrs. Winkler trained to be a registered nurse, and moved to New York to work in a hospital in hopes of entering the U.S. Army Nursing Corp. She wanted to go into the Army as a nurse, but Canada would not allow it until the age of 25, thus her move to New York. Mrs. Winkler met her future husband, Walter, while as a nurse, caring for his brother's child in the hospital. Once they were married, she gave up nursing to help on the family farm and raise her children. The Winkler's were fruit and grain farmers in Middleburg, N.Y. Unable to purchase more land in New York, and upon extensive searching, they purchased land and settled into Harrington in 1952, and continued to work and build up the farm. In her spare time, she enjoyed quilting and attending purebred cattle shows and sales. She always made time for her children and grandchildren, and looked forward to spending as much time as possible with them. Mrs. Winkler was a devoted member of the St. Stephens Episcopal Church where she was honored for playing over 35 years as the organist. She was also a member of the Ladies Shaw group at the church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter W. Winkler. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, John and Janice E. Winkler of Felton, and William and Debbie Winkler of Felton; grandchildren and their spouses, Brandi and Dewane Geise, Shelly and Tim Simpson, and Michael and Carey Winkler; and great-grandchildren, Brooke, Kathryn, and Travis. Services will be 11 a.m., Sept. 11, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Raughley Hill Road, Harrington, where a visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Hollywood Cemetery. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, 190 Raughley Hill Road, Harrington, DE 19952. Arrangements are by the Melvin Funeral Home, Harrington.