Wayne C. "Pete" Van Winkle

Wayne Van Winkle was born November 1, 1929, the day after Halloween, to Pike and Sybil Van Winkle in Rogers, NM.  His life here on earth ended on Tax Day, April 15, 2024.  He was the 3^rd of 14 children, 7 boys and 7 girls, and learned the discipline of hard work at an early age.  Pete, as he was called by family and many friends,   developed his sense of humor, mischief-making and teasing as part of this large family.  He graduated from Rogers schools where he finished 2^nd in his class and played basketball.  Soon after, he was drafted into the US army and served in the Korean War.  His military skills (MOS) were critical to the Field Artillery Corps where he served as a forward observer, resulting in a direct air lift rather than ocean voyage to his unit.  In the two bitter cold years of service, he was recognized with accelerated promotion to Staff Sargeant (E6). 

Upon returning to Portales, NM Wayne met  the love of his life, Earlene Conner, working at a bank with his sister.  It wasn’t long before they started dating and married October 10, 1953, and moved to Carlsbad, NM with the Santa Fe railroad.  They bought their first house on Normandy Street and he moved from the railroad to being traffic manager for several of the potash mines,  eventually retiring from IMCC.  Wayne and Earlene had two daughters, Waynta Ann and Pamela Dawn.

As well as being a family man, he loved to read, golf, fish and hunt.  He was active in the Elk’s Club of Carlsbad and was a board member of the Carlsbad golf course as well as the Mesa Sr Center.  He often entertained the salesmen visiting the mines in Carlsbad and The Fountain was a favorite dinner spot as well as the drive up to C hill to view Carlsbad at night.   He got his associate degree from New Mexico State University.  Family vacations were often camping and fishing on the Mescalero Apache campground in Ruidoso, NM.  In retirement he golfed every weekday and was part of a special birthday group, did lots of square dancing and played 42.

New levels of joy came as Wayne became a grandfather to Sarah Nicole, Jaime Alicia, Jessica Bailey and Justin Conner.  After being noted at giving nicknames, he finally got his special nickname of Hoo Hoo from playing hide and seek with his first granddaughter, and that name stuck!  He loved to treat the grands to campouts and road trips and especially teaching them to be financially sound by making wise investments and choosing a plan for saving money which has had a lasting impact on each of their lives.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife Earlene, Parents Pike and Sybil Van Winkle, siblings Gerald (Rip), Joy, Wanda, Vera, Joann, Albert, Helen, Elvis (Buck), Fred, Janice, Jim.

He is survived by his daughters, Waynta Wirth (Paul) and Pamela Johnson (Rocky), Brother Bill (Judy) Van Winkle and sister Cookie McGee, grandchildren Sarah (John) Calaway, Jaime (Shane) Grubbs, Jessica (Roshenka) Jayawardhana, Justin (Jacki) Johnson, great grandchildren Cohen Calaway, Cora Calaway, Evelyn Grubbs, Elliana Jayawardhana, Lucas Grubbs, Eliza Jayawardhana, Addie Cooper , Ben Cooper, Charlotte Dawn Johnson and a new great grand expected to be born later this year. There are numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces much loved by Wayne including Patricia Russell who may not be a blood related niece but was considered one from the time Wayne and her dad Cecil became close friends. Patricia thoughtfully visited Wayne regularly during his last year and half living in Texas with a special knack for lifting his spirits.

The family is eternally grateful to so many loved ones who tenderly cared for Wayne and his wife Earlene in their final years. Son-in-law, Rocky Johnson made no distinction between relative and blood relative welcoming them into the family home, caring for them, and involving the entire Johnson clan in the process. Wayne survived a serious brain bleed in 2019 and was a walking miracle.  Wayne moved to San Antonio, TX with Pam and Rocky in 2022 after Earlene passed away and enjoyed his last years also living with his grandson Justin and his family. He delighted in helping  care for baby Charlotte which brought great joy to Wayne and all of us.  We, the family, have been blessed by you all. Special gratitude goes to the staff of Pipestone Place in San Antonio and Gentiva Hospice for outstanding support.

The life of Wayne will be celebrated by the family at a later time.  He will find his final resting place at Sunset Gardens Memorial Park in Carlsbad, next to his wife and other family members.