Harvel Everett Winkley

Harvel Everett “Wink” Winkley, 94, died peacefully surrounded by his children at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, NY on July 26, 2018.

Born in Rochester, NH on October 25, 1923 to Ernest and Mildred (Dame) Winkley, he was married for sixty years to Barbara Sisco. Together they lovingly raised four children in Milford, Penacook, and Rochester, NH as well as Wynantskill and Fayetteville, NY.

An only child, Wink attended School Street School and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1941. He was quarterback of his high school football team and catcher of its baseball team. Wink and his “Woodie” were popular among classmates. The car even joined students on the stage at his SHS Senior Class Night.

Following graduation from high school, Wink worked at a local box factory to earn money for college. After one year at UNH, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and served his country during World War II from 1942-45 as a flight officer and bombardier.

Harvel returned to UNH following the war and earned a degree in forestry. Joining the US Department of Agriculture, he served as a soil scientist with the Soil Conservation Service in Concord, Laconia, Wynantskill, NY and Syracuse NY. He was the principal author of widely used county soil survey reports still in use today.

In 1945, Wink purchased land on Pine River Pond in Wakefield, NH. There he built a camp that has been the site of many family vacations and gatherings including Barbara’s and his 45 th wedding anniversary party. Today the camp continues his legacy of water skiing, fishing and boating - especially sailing - into the fourth generation.

Upon retirement in 1980, Wink and family moved back to Rochester to build a home next to his parents. There he enjoyed skiing, golfing, woodworking, gardening and travelling. He and Barbara were active members of the First United Methodist Church of Rochester. He also was a member of Kiwanis and attended veteran events.

Harvel was predeceased by his beloved wife who died in 2010. He is survived by his four children: Susan Steele, Sandra (David) Arnone, Sarah (David) Hemendinger and Steven (Carol) Winkley; nine grandchildren: Andrew, Katelyn and Timothy Steele; Jessie (Justin) Zeh and Joel (Carissa) Arnone; Ashley (DJ) Osier and Morgan Hemendinger; Samuel and William Winkley; two great-grandchildren, Rohan and Braelyn Steele; cousins, niece and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 10 at 2 pm at the First United Methodist Church, 34 S. Main St., Rochester, NH at 2 pm with a reception following in Hurd Hall. Burial will be held in Rochester Cemetery on Franklin St. Arrangements are under the direction of the Edgerly Funeral Home, 86 S. Main St., Rochester, NH 03867. For more information call (603) 332-0230.

Anyone wishing to remember Wink with a memorial may donate to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or Meals on Wheels, SNMOW, 25 Bartlett Ave., Suite A, Somersworth, NH 03878. 

The family wishes to thank Wink’s neighbor Jim Hebert, Dr. Kevin Donovan and the staff of Eddy Heritage Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Troy, NY and the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, NY for their care and kindness to Wink and his family.

As Wink would often say, “I thought the party was divine … Good night now!”

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