Margaret Porter Winkler passed away on July 21, 2014 in Huntsville, Alabama following a lengthy illness. She was a native Huntsvillian, educated in city schools, graduating from Huntsville High School in 1945 as class valedictorian. Margaret received a degree in music with a minor in math from Peabody College in Nashville. In her senior year she was awarded the math prize and was soloist in that city’s annual performance of The Messiah in the War Memorial Auditorium.
She is survived by her husband Dr. Carl E. Winkler, daughter: Anne W. Burkett; granddaughter: Allison Burkett and grandson: Graham Burkett, all of Huntsville. Out-of-town survivors include brother: Jefferson Dobbs Porter of Pennsylvania and sister-in-law: Norma Winkler Moskey of Connecticut plus many nieces and nephews. Margaret was a loving, dedicated, class-taught Christian Scientist and held many offices at the local church, including reader and soloist for 10 years as she continued her vocal studies under Professor Martha Dick McClung at Birmingham Southern. She was a long-time member of the Huntsville Music Appreciation Club as well as the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild.
She experienced a variety of employment positions from management and technical editor for a local engineering firm to teaching in city schools followed by teaching private piano lessons. A memorial service will be held at Berryhill Funeral Home on Saturday July 26, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends for one hour before service time. Internment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery. No graveside service is planned. Memorial gifts may be made to First Church of Christ, Scientist, 807 Owens Drive in Huntsville.
