Obituary for Debra Ann Winkler (Wheeler)
Debbie Winkler passed away at her home on February 2, 2022 in Waco, Texas. She was born in Waco, Texas to James Vester Wheeler and Minnie Veracruz Wheeler. She graduated from Richfield High School in 1977 and attended McLennan Community College to study speech communication. After graduation in 1979 from McLennan she went to Southwest Texas State and earned a degree in communication in 1982. She married the love of her life David Winkler in Waco, Texas on February 8, 1984.
Debbie was a loving daughter, sister, wife, aunt, friend, and well respected teacher. She began teaching high school English in 1982 at Smithville High School in Smithville, Texas. She taught a variety of subjects in Smithville until 1999. She also served students at Banquete High School in Banquete, Texas and Giddings High School in Giddings, Texas before her retirement in 2012. During her 30 year career in education, she taught many different courses to her students. Her favorite classes to teach included; Speech, Debate and Theater Arts. She was the UIL academic coordinator, hosted UIL academic tournaments and coached students in many UIL speaking events. Over the course of her career Debbie Winkler was honored with numerous recognitions and awards for her achievements as an educator. District awards included: Teacher of the Year and City Achievement Award; UIL state headquarters awarded: Sponsor Excellence Award, TFCA Leadership Award, Regional Advisory Committee Member, UIL training workshop presenter and trainer and named as one of the top five UIL coaches in 3A classification from across the state along with other recognitions.
Mrs. (Wheeler) Winkler was a devoted teacher who had a passion for literature and the ability to assure proper communication was learned in written and oral expression. She coached students to be champions in Cross-Examination and Lincoln Douglas debate, extemporaneous speaking, oral interpretation and many other events. She would spend hours preparing and writing debate cases, researching evidence, developing strategies, reading about news around the world and finding the poem or short story just right for each student. Additionally, she directed several plays each school year, always trying to find the production that would match her cast in the best way for One Act Play competition. The students felt the love she had for UIL and them as she trained each of them to be UIL champions and successful students. Her passion and dedication was seen each morning as she arrived at school with her Sonic diet coke and another debate case or poem for them to work on. Those early morning bus rides that assured students would arrive at a contest before the custodians came to even unlock the doors, brought memories that only those who participated could understand and appreciate. Debbie’s commitment to her students went beyond the classroom as she would be found working concession stands, fundraising, hosting UIL events, in the bleachers of a sporting event, the chairs of a graduation, the seats of a wedding or at the celebration of her students’ own children. She made sure to watch and care for all of those she taught and loved.
She was preceded in death by father, James Wheeler; brother, Dean Wheeler; husband, David Winkler; maternal grandparents, Jose & Gladys Veracruz; paternal-in-laws, Herman & Tonie Winkler; brother-in law, Edgar Hoehne.
Survivors include her mother, Minnie Veracruz Wheeler of Waco, TX; sisters-in-law, Penny Fisk (Rick) of Hewitt, TX, Linda Winkler of Smithville, TX, and Bernice Hoehne of Coperville, MS; brothers-in-law, Larry Winkler of Smithville, TX, Barry Winkler of Houston, TX, and Harvey (Nancy) Winkler of Huntsville, TX; nieces, Whitney Wheeler and Lauren Bagley of Lorena, TX, Rebecca (Adam) Dyess of Hattiesburg, MS, Amanda (Brandon) Cox of Bay Saint Louis, MS, Kristen (Kevin) Rhudy of Victoria, MN, Tammy (Joel) Douget of Madisonville, TX and Brittani (Kenny) Carmona of Branson, MO; nephews, Westly Wheeler of Lorena, TX and Shane (Crystal) of Bryan, TX; she also has great-nieces, Aubree Dyess, Madison Cox, Klara & Kadence Rhudy, Anna & Charlotte Winkler and Chey Douget; her great-nephews, are Jackson & Luke Bagley, Noah Dyees, Remington & Rowland Cox, Kamden Rhudy and Kevin Carmona. In addition she leaves behind a legacy among many cousins, dear friends and loving students.
Visitation will be at Oakcrest Funeral Home in Waco, Texas on Friday, February 18th from 6:00-8:00 pm. Funeral services will be at Oakcrest Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, February 19th at 10:00 am in Waco, Texas. Immediately following chapel services, everyone is invited to attend graveside services at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas.
Pallbearers: Ben Droemer, Derek Bagley, Eric Del Torro, Gareth Richards, Neil Wessels, Rick Fisk, Todd Hannath and Westly Wheeler.
Honorary Pallbearers: Andy Masek, Barry Winkler, Harold Wessels, Harvey Winkler, Larry Winkler, John Scallorn, Mark Bernier, Max Thompson, Michael Cunningham, and Randy Zimmerhanzel.
Debbie was a loving daughter, sister, wife, aunt, friend, and well respected teacher. She began teaching high school English in 1982 at Smithville High School in Smithville, Texas. She taught a variety of subjects in Smithville until 1999. She also served students at Banquete High School in Banquete, Texas and Giddings High School in Giddings, Texas before her retirement in 2012. During her 30 year career in education, she taught many different courses to her students. Her favorite classes to teach included; Speech, Debate and Theater Arts. She was the UIL academic coordinator, hosted UIL academic tournaments and coached students in many UIL speaking events. Over the course of her career Debbie Winkler was honored with numerous recognitions and awards for her achievements as an educator. District awards included: Teacher of the Year and City Achievement Award; UIL state headquarters awarded: Sponsor Excellence Award, TFCA Leadership Award, Regional Advisory Committee Member, UIL training workshop presenter and trainer and named as one of the top five UIL coaches in 3A classification from across the state along with other recognitions.
Mrs. (Wheeler) Winkler was a devoted teacher who had a passion for literature and the ability to assure proper communication was learned in written and oral expression. She coached students to be champions in Cross-Examination and Lincoln Douglas debate, extemporaneous speaking, oral interpretation and many other events. She would spend hours preparing and writing debate cases, researching evidence, developing strategies, reading about news around the world and finding the poem or short story just right for each student. Additionally, she directed several plays each school year, always trying to find the production that would match her cast in the best way for One Act Play competition. The students felt the love she had for UIL and them as she trained each of them to be UIL champions and successful students. Her passion and dedication was seen each morning as she arrived at school with her Sonic diet coke and another debate case or poem for them to work on. Those early morning bus rides that assured students would arrive at a contest before the custodians came to even unlock the doors, brought memories that only those who participated could understand and appreciate. Debbie’s commitment to her students went beyond the classroom as she would be found working concession stands, fundraising, hosting UIL events, in the bleachers of a sporting event, the chairs of a graduation, the seats of a wedding or at the celebration of her students’ own children. She made sure to watch and care for all of those she taught and loved.
She was preceded in death by father, James Wheeler; brother, Dean Wheeler; husband, David Winkler; maternal grandparents, Jose & Gladys Veracruz; paternal-in-laws, Herman & Tonie Winkler; brother-in law, Edgar Hoehne.
Survivors include her mother, Minnie Veracruz Wheeler of Waco, TX; sisters-in-law, Penny Fisk (Rick) of Hewitt, TX, Linda Winkler of Smithville, TX, and Bernice Hoehne of Coperville, MS; brothers-in-law, Larry Winkler of Smithville, TX, Barry Winkler of Houston, TX, and Harvey (Nancy) Winkler of Huntsville, TX; nieces, Whitney Wheeler and Lauren Bagley of Lorena, TX, Rebecca (Adam) Dyess of Hattiesburg, MS, Amanda (Brandon) Cox of Bay Saint Louis, MS, Kristen (Kevin) Rhudy of Victoria, MN, Tammy (Joel) Douget of Madisonville, TX and Brittani (Kenny) Carmona of Branson, MO; nephews, Westly Wheeler of Lorena, TX and Shane (Crystal) of Bryan, TX; she also has great-nieces, Aubree Dyess, Madison Cox, Klara & Kadence Rhudy, Anna & Charlotte Winkler and Chey Douget; her great-nephews, are Jackson & Luke Bagley, Noah Dyees, Remington & Rowland Cox, Kamden Rhudy and Kevin Carmona. In addition she leaves behind a legacy among many cousins, dear friends and loving students.
Visitation will be at Oakcrest Funeral Home in Waco, Texas on Friday, February 18th from 6:00-8:00 pm. Funeral services will be at Oakcrest Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, February 19th at 10:00 am in Waco, Texas. Immediately following chapel services, everyone is invited to attend graveside services at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas.
Pallbearers: Ben Droemer, Derek Bagley, Eric Del Torro, Gareth Richards, Neil Wessels, Rick Fisk, Todd Hannath and Westly Wheeler.
Honorary Pallbearers: Andy Masek, Barry Winkler, Harold Wessels, Harvey Winkler, Larry Winkler, John Scallorn, Mark Bernier, Max Thompson, Michael Cunningham, and Randy Zimmerhanzel.