Joseph W. Winkley

Joe peacefully left this earth to be with his Lord Jesus on Saturday, August 31, 2013, leaving behind his wife of 59 years, 6 children, 10 grandchildren, who called him Ampa, Poohpa, Paka Winki and Pops, and 4 great grand children.

Joe was born on May 12, 1931 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Joseph and Florence Winkley. His family moved to Indiana and St. Louis before settling in Austin in 1942. Joe proudly served in the Navy from 1952-1954. In his early twenties after serving, he went to work at his father’s furniture store in Austin. It was there that he met his bride, Bodie, when she and her daughter Kay, came in to buy a cedar chest. Joe personally delivered the chest to Bodie in order to ask her out for a date. They were married on July 24, 1954, and raised six children together. Joe worked for several retailers in the Austin, Rio Grande Valley and Corpus areas throughout his career. He and his partner, Jim Hazelwood, opened the Furniture Barn on East 6th Street in Austin in 1961. After his partner’s death, Joe continued the store until 1976 when he changed locations and renamed the store, Winkley’s Warehouse. In 1978, he opened Designer Showcase, a custom furniture upholstery store. Later in life, he ventured into real estate where he had much success before retiring at the age of 62.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Florence Winkley; his daughter, M. Kay Park; his brothers, Bill Winkley, Bob Winkley, and Karl Winkley and sister; Betty Winkley Kaul.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bodie LaVern Daugherty Winkley; children, Debbie Winkley Johnson and husband Richard of Austin; Linda Winkley Little and husband Robert of Rancho Viejo; Scott Winkley and wife Kelly of Richmond; Chuck Winkley and wife Lele of Austin; and Lisa Winkley Garcia and husband Oscar of Houston; grandchildren, Brandon Little of Dallas; Katie Zavaletta and husband Dave of Switzerland; Cole Winkley of Richmond; Nick Winkley of Richmond; Blake Winkley of New York; Ross Brown of Austin; Megan Winkley of Santa Barbara; Hayley Brown of Austin, Faith Winkley of Austin; Brandi Hockaday and husband Byron of Austin; and great grandchildren, Aria and Julian Zavaletta and Will and Nicole Hockaday.