Wayne McKinney

Wayne McKinney, 87, beloved husband of Dolores since 1975, of Vernon, passed away on March 1st, 2012, at Rockville Hospital, surrounded by loving family. He was born September 13, 1924, in Bakersville, North Carolina, to the late Robert and Lucy (Grindstaff) McKinney. He attended and graduated from Bakersville schools. Moving to Connecticut in 1949, he resided in East Hartford and South Windsor, moving to Vernon in 1997, after living for a time in Florida and South Carolina. Wayne was a valued employee of Pratt & Whitney, retiring in 1983 after 34 years. He was a proud Navy veteran of WWII, serving on the aircraft carriers Saipan, Rockbridge, and others, and received written praise from his superiors for his work ethic and leadership skills. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Army-Navy Club of Manchester. Wayne was an accomplished golfer of 40 years, having won a number of local tournaments. He also enjoyed fishing, and traveling with his loving wife. A good husband, father, grandfather, friend, and a hard worker, he will be remembered as such. He will be dearly missed by his wife Dolores of 37 years, sister-in-law Norma Tuttle of Vernon, son, Wayne E. McKinney and his wife Francine of South Windsor, daughters Kathy Sullivan and her husband Richard of Broad Brook, Gale McKinney, Donna Wetherbee and her husband Bob, and Janice McKinney, all of East Hartford, stepson Terry Ferris of East Hartford, stepdaughter Kelly Ferris of Manchester, sisters Faye Garland, and Emily Gage of South Carolina and Thelma Thomas of North Carolina, 11 grand children, 15 great grand children, and one great, great granddaughter. He also leaves many special nieces and nephews, and dear friends. He was predeceased by his stepdaughter Diana Ferris of Hartford, brother Glen McKinney and sister Zelamae Thomas, both of North Carolina.

Family and friends are invited at 9AM on Monday, March 5th to the Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave., East Hartford, with his Celebration of Life service to begin at 10AM. Burial with full military honors will follow in Silver Lane Cemetery, East Hartford.

Calling hours will be this Sunday evening, March 4th, from 7-9PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Wayne’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, New England Division, 538 Preston Ave, PO Box 1004, Meriden, CT. 06450-1004, or the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Dr., PO Box 5022, Wallingford, CT. 06492

To leave an online condolence, or visit Wayne’s tribute, please visit www.newkirkandwhitney.com