Obituary: Chris F. Winkle III, President of Winkle Bus Company

Information via PORTO FUNERAL HOME

Mr. Chris F. Winkle III, President of Winkle Bus Company, Inc., died on March 18, 2018. He passed away peacefully at home in Orange of natural causes. He was a resident of Orange for his entire life, the only child of Chris F. Winkle, Jr. and Katherine B. Winkle, both also original Orange residents. His wife of over sixty-six years and the love of his life, Dorothy Villinger Winkle, died in 2013.

Mr. Winkle was born at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT on June 4, 1925. At birth he was awarded a silver loving cup by Metropolitan Insurance Company as the “world’s most perfect baby.” He still had this loving cup with him up until his death. Chris was also the proud recipient of many community service awards and civic organizations during his lifetime. He attended the Orange public schools, where his father operated one school bus for the town, and New Haven High School.

Mr. Winkle took over the one bus operation of his father by adding a bus that started in the town of Orange, thus creating Winkle Bus Co, Inc., which has been in existence since 1953 and has grown to a fleet with over two hundred plus vehicles with many multi-city contracts. In the early 1970’s he was awarded the transportation contract for the City of Milford. The Milford operation started out in a rented garage at the Texaco station located at 1500 Boston Post Road. As the business grew he opened up new company facilities on Schoolhouse Road in Milford.

Winkle Bus served Milford’s schoolchildren and parents for over thirty years. Mr. Winkle continued to build a much larger business by adding the City of West Haven contract and constructing a new bus facility there, with state of the art fuel storage. The company also serviced North Haven and operates vehicles for private schools, including Lauralton Hall, Sacred Heart Academy and St. Joe’s.

Mr. Winkle coached the Orange Little League baseball team in the 1970’s and was a member of the Mason’s and the Shriner’s organizations. Chris enjoyed serving his town and was a member of Orange Congregational Church and Racebrook Country Club. He was well known for his great sense of humor and had an uncanny memory for telling jokes. The New York Yankees and the Giants were “his” teams. He also loved Yale football and had annual passes to the Yale Bowl for many years. He was a math whiz with a sharp memory, and calculated most numbers in his head. His many friends will remember his kindness, as his passing is a great loss not just to his family but also to the community.

He is survived by three children, Christian F. Winkle IV of San Diego, Laurie (Robert M. Grasson) Winkle and Craig J. (Bethanne) Winkle Sr. all of Orange and two grandchildren, Craig J. Winkle Jr. and Katherine Winkle.

The family would like to thank Maria and Jenny for the care and devotion towards Mr. Winkle.
Relatives and friends are invited to a service in the Orange Congregational Church 209 Meetinghouse Lane Orange SATURDAY morning March 24, 2018 at 11:00 A.M.

Interment will follow in Orange Center Cemetery. Friends may call SATURDAY morning in the Orange Congregational Church from 9:00 A.M. until time of service. Arrangements in care of the PORTO FUNERAL HOME 830 Jones Hill Rd. West Haven. Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Rising Sun Charitable Foundation P.O. Box 472 Branford, CT 06405 in honor of his granddaughter.