Obituary of Kenneth Melvel Winkley

Kenneth Melvel Winkley died November 26, 2022, succumbing to congestive heart failure at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. Born July 14, 1935, in Ekalaka, Montana, Ken was the oldest of two children born to John H. and Anna Mae Winkley. His beginnings were humble (his father was a sheep rancher) and he spent summers as a teenager working for a number of ranchers and farmers in Eastern Washington.

 

Ken graduated from high school in 1953 and moved to the Seattle area, where he went to work for Boeing Aircraft, building parts for B-52 airplanes. However, after three months, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he went through both basic and leadership training. Though he was originally slated to head to Korea during the Korean War, he was instead sent to Panama, where he trained troops in the jungles, stood guard on the Panama Canal for three months each year, and worked as a typist at headquarters. Ken finished his enlistment in 1956 and returned to Washington state.

 

He went back to work at Boeing but wanted to further his education, so he enrolled at Seattle University, then transferred to the University of Washington, using his GI Bill benefits, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1960. Shortly after he returned, he met his wife, Kathleen Ann Coolen. They were married in 1957 and soon the Winkley clan began to develop, first in the form of seven children, then 17 grandchildren, and finally 15 great-grandchildren.

 

After completing his degree, Ken went to work for the State of Washington as an Accounting Analyst in the Central Budget Agency. It was here that he made the personal connections that resulted in his working in public higher education, first as the Assistant Controller for Washington State University in Pullman, then as Controller for a new college in Olympia dedicated to a revolutionary method of education delivery--The Evergreen State College. Ken spent the bulk of his career at Evergreen (22 years) working as Controller, then Business Manager, then Facilities Director, and finally as Vice President of Finance and Administration. As a part of his career journey at Evergreen, Ken enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University, where he earned a Master’s in Business Administration, rounding out through his education that which he had mastered on the job.

 

After retiring from Evergreen, Ken continued to work in facilities and project management, first for U.S. Intelco Networks, and then finally for Washington State Employees Credit Union.

 

Throughout his well-lived life, Ken truly enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid camper, fisherman, hunter, and gladly nurtured those pastimes in his children. He also loved cooking, especially barbecuing and grilling, and in a nod to his agricultural roots, took up vegetable gardening and proudly delivered the goods to the family table.

 

He is survived by his children and their spouses/significant others, Robert (James), Martin (Nancy), Daniel (Rhonda), David (Karla), Suzanne (Joseph), Kenneth Jr. (Monica), Edward (Michaela), Carmen (Edwin Sr.); his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Ann Winkley; his granddaughter, Erica Winkley; his sister, Katherine Tinjum; and his parents, John H. and Anna Mae Winkley.

 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either the Thurston County Humane Society by clicking HERE or the Hooved Animal Rescue of Thurston County by clicking HERE.

 

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Date:  SATURDAY, January 21, 2023

Time:     1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Location:    THE LONGHOUSE

  EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
  2700 Evergreen Parkway N.W.
  OLYMPIA WA 98505

  For Directions To Evergreen State College: (360) 867-6000

  Parking: 

  -Main Entrance to College

  - Follow signs to Lot B

  -When you enter Lot B, keep right driving up a small incline

  -Drive until you see handicap parking area

  -Just past the parking area is a paved walkway to Longhouse 

  -The path will be marked with signs, “Ken Winkley” 

  -The path is paved, the walk is approximately 3 blocks

  -No fees for parking on Saturdays

 

Life Celebration:  Kenneth Winkley

 

Topic: Winkley

Zoom Meeting – available to log/call in at 12:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

(Celebration Begins at 1:00 PM Pacific Time)

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://osd111.zoom.us/j/84009362811?pwd=bENBbjk1Z284YTV1OWl2YlBTRWJUZz09

 

Meeting ID: 840 0936 2811

Passcode: 0714

One tap mobile

+12532158782,,84009362811#,,,,*0714# US (Tacoma)

+12532050468,,84009362811#,,,,*0714# US

 

Dial by your location

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

        +1 253 205 0468 US

        +1 669 444 9171 US

        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

        +1 719 359 4580 US

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

        +1 305 224 1968 US

        +1 309 205 3325 US

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

        +1 360 209 5623 US

        +1 386 347 5053 US

        +1 507 473 4847 US

        +1 564 217 2000 US

        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

        +1 646 931 3860 US

        +1 689 278 1000 US

Meeting ID: 840 0936 2811

Passcode: 0714

Find your local number: https://osd111.zoom.us/u/kbAubROcom

 

Please leave condolences or share memories and photos on the Tribute Wall to the left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kenneth Winkley, please visit Tribute Store