Pastor Winkle

Paul D. Van Winkle, died at the age of 86, July 18, 2014 at Austin, Texas.

He graduated from Gresham High School, Oregon, then went on to the military and served in the Army as a part of the Allied Occupation Forces in Italy following WWII. His intention was to go to college and enter the Foreign Service, but became a Christian at the Gospel Tabernacle in North Bonneville, Washington, which was pastored by his dad, Charles Edward Van Winkle. He then attended Southwestern Assemblies of God Bible School in Waxahachie, Texas.

He met Sylvia Keyser at his dad's church. She was already a preacher and his call into the ministry directly followed his salvation at Gospel Tabernacle. They married, and then went to Sisters, Oregon to start a new church. His lifetime association as an Assemblies of God minister began with the Kansas District, and soon became part of the Oregon District. He went on to minister as a part of the Indiana District, South Texas District, and North Texas District of the Assemblies of God. He was an evangelist and pastor. He served on sectional committees and was Presbyter of the Beaumont Section of the South Texas District for several years. His ministry spanned over 60 years.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Van Winkle. He and Sylvia had four children, Stephen Van Winkle (Julie Van Winkle), Ron Van Winkle (Brenda Van Winkle), Liz Brady-Benedetti (Hank Benedetti), and Louetta Powell (Robin Powell). There are eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Special thanks to Julie Van Winkle who faithfully took care of her mother and father-in-law in the latter years.