Kathryn L. Winkler

Kathryn Lenore Winkler was born on January 24, 1947 to Clifford & Vivian Branson in East Liverpool, Ohio. Kat was the third child of what would eventually be seven siblings (2 boys & 5 girls).

Kat grew up in East Liverpool and in 1965 graduated from East Liverpool High School. After school, she worked in a carry-out restaurant and briefly attended Kent State University.

Around the age of 20, Kat left Ohio and came to Baltimore, Maryland to live with her older cousin Susan Gault. In Baltimore Kat worked in a fast food restaurant and at the Hecht Company, but her long-term employment was at the Bell Atlantic Telephone Company. Kat would often speak of her beginning with the telephone company as it was in 1968 and Martin Luther King was just assassinated, and riots broke out in many cities including Baltimore. Kat never forgot, as a new operator, the many extremely alarmed people that constantly called for police protection. Kat was the treasurer for the Bell Atlantic Union, CWA Local 2110. Kat & Alvin spent several years traveling throughout the United States to her Union Conventions and then to Alvin’s Police Conferences. After 30 years she retired but did not like sitting at home, so she went back to work as a secretary at the Northeast Middle School

. While walking to work one day Kat was approached by a young Police Officer by the name of Alvin Winkler. From that sudden meeting the two of them became friends, fell in love and were married. That marriage would last for 50 years & 8 months. Alvin was the father of three small children (Alvin Jr, Alan & Dawn) and immediately Kat became the ultimate mom. Wherever they went, no one ever knew they were not her birth children.

Soon Kat gave birth to her beautiful daughter Danielle. Danielle and Kat were inseparable, and Kat nourished and cared for her with the true love of a mother.

Kat was also the God Mother to JoVern, LaCheryl & Raymond Spence. Their parents were real friends and upon their passing Kat wanted to ll the void. So, she made sure that she and Alvin continued to be an integral part of their lives.

While in Ohio, Kat would accompany her Grandmother, Catherine Branson, to the AME Church. Kat and all four children joined Alvin’s home church, Fountain Baptist. Kat loved Fountain and during her prolonged illness she would say many times how much she missed church. However, when Zoom and Streaming became available, Kat never missed a service. She insisted that Alvin set up the TV before going to church so she could see the service.

Kat became a Deaconess at Fountain and served as the Advisor to the Young Voices Choir, Youth and Young Adult Days and Sister to Sister. Once again, her love for young people was evident by the way she interacted with the kids. Kat had the patience and love that drew the children of Fountain to her. Kat also enjoyed coming to Church early for Sunday School and talking to the senior members of the church. Kat truly loved Fountain and its members.

Kathryn leaves to cherish fond memories of her; her Husband Alvin; her children Danielle, Alvin Jr., Alan, (Priscilla), and Dawn; grandsons Corey, Chaz, Calvin, D’Arice and Alan Jr.; granddaughters Caitlynn, Morgan, Taylor, Valen, Alex and Alina; great grands, Nevaeh, Cameron, Jordan, Chance and Cali; brothers; Clifford Michael (Leslie) and Bruce; sisters Sharon (Bill), Leslie, Rosalyn and Gwendolyn; God Children JoVern (Rickey), LaCheryl (Reggie), Raymond (Erin) and a host of Nephews, Nieces and Friends