Walter Winkles

Walter "Dub" Winkles, 88, of Abilene, passed away Saturday, October 27, 2012. Funerals services will be at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at Hillcrest Church of Christ. Burial will follow in the Cedar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Dub was born October 24, 1924, near Slaton, Texas to Monroe and Maggie Winkles. He graduated from Abilene High School in May 1943, after playing on the 1941 State Finalist Basketball Team. Dub entered the Army Air Corps in 1943. He trained in the states before going overseas. While stationed in Italy, he flew 40 combat missions over Europe as a tail gunner on a B-25 bomber, receiving two Presidential citations. He was discharged October 24, 1945 and returned to Abilene. Upon returning to Abilene, he entered A.C.C. and continued his basketball career. It was there he met his wife to be, Fran Moser. They were married February 8, 1947, while both still attending A.C.C. Dub graduated from A.C.U. in the summer of 1948 and earned his master's degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 1950. He taught and coached in the Abilene Independent School District for seven years, before pursuing other business ventures. In 1968 he joined the A.C.U. staff as the director of recreation and served the university for 18 years. He was recently inducted into the A.C.U. Sports Hall of Fame. After retiring from A.C.U. in December of 1987, Dub spent much of his time being a family man, fishing, hunting, traveling, and attending and watching T.V. sporting events. He and Fran enjoyed several years R.V. traveling, camping, fishing, water sports, and in later years, group bus tours. Dub was a member of Hillcrest Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, David Winkles and Dale Winkles; his sister and brother-in-law, Mona Rae and Gene Fleming; his son-in-law, Jim Lindsey; and a granddaughter, Keri Frances Bass. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Fran (Moser) Winkles, of Abilene; two daughters, Sara Bass and husband Dean of Houston, and Susan Lindsey of Ft. Worth; one son, Shane Winkles of Abilene; one brother, Carlton Winkles and wife Loudel of Cross Plains; a sister-in-law, Thelma Winkles of Cabot, AR; five grandchildren: Kasey Baker and husband David of Magnolia; Kevin Bass and wife Megan of The Woodlands; Lauri Hargrove and husband Craig, Melissa Russell and husband Tim, and Jamie Heath and husband Joey, all of Ft. Worth; nine great-grandchildren: Mallory Rogers, Landon Rogers, Brooklyn Russell, Tayden Russell, Payton Heath, Gracie Bass, Rosie Baker, Sydney Hargrove and Emily Hargrove; as well as several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be sent to the Dub Winkles Endowment Scholarship Fund A.C.U., Box 29134, Abilene, TX 79699.