- Date Of Birth: July 28, 1930
- Date Of Death: March 19, 2017
- State: Georgia
Samuel “Sambo” Andrew Winkles of Sharpsburg, Georgia passed away at Piedmont Newnan Hospital surrounded by his family. Sambo was born on July 28, 1930 to the late Peter Allen Winkles and Gena Cochran Winkles of Sharpsburg, GA. He was a Private 1st Class soldier in the United States Army when he joined January 11, 1951. He served as an infantry soldier in the Korean War on the front lines clearing the way for the tanks sleeping in fox holes and trenches. He earned the Korean Service Medal with a Bronze Star, Occupation Medal in Japan, United Nations Service Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge for his service and valor. He was honorably discharged on October 10, 1952. After returning home from Korea, Samuel got a job that lasted 30 years at the Ford Motor Company in Hapeville. After his retirement in 1983, he enjoyed visiting with neighbors and people from his church. Sambo never met a stranger. He was a Mason and member of Tyrone Masonic Lodge #644 for 60 years and was also a past Master. He was a charter member of Palmetto Daylight Lodge #755 and an honorary member at many others. Sambo loved to read his Bible and did so two or three times a day. After his readings he would sit and discuss the Bible and how he thought it applied to him, and others as well. His love for Rock Springs Baptist Church where he attended as a child and became a member after accepting the Lord, was known everywhere. He always invited others to come to the church. His forefathers established and formed the country church based on their faith and love for God. Sambo was an avid collector of many things. He took pride when finding a rare piece that he could add to his “Wild Turkey Bottle Decanters” or “McDonald’ Glasses. He loved buying and selling old cars and trucks. If somebody came by and wanted to buy one and the price was right, he sold it and started looking for another. Growing up as a farm boy, he enjoyed cooking barbecue under the shed and raising and selling pigs. He enjoyed collecting coins and fishing. He had the catfish trained by feeding them bread to eat so whenever he wanted a fresh mess of fish, it was no problem to catch them. He loved to quail hunt and on a good day would bring in quail for supper. In the fall when the leaves fell off the trees he enjoyed burning the leaves and watching the smoke rise. He liked to watch the chimney smoke and could always tell by the way the smoke fell what the weather would be. Sambo loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was often worse than a doting grandmother about taking the grandchildren’s pictures out of his wallet to proudly show others. In later years when the great-grandchildren came, he would sneak those Hershey Kisses when their parents weren’t looking and if caught giving the chocolate, explained that they “only got one”. Truthfully, it was one of many. When cautioned about the fact that they wouldn’t eat their lunch, it never bothered him as he thought everybody ate as good as he ate…..not realizing the children did not….they ate the chocolate. Sambo leaves behind to cherish his memory a sister, Sara Proctor (Bobby) of Sharpsburg, daughters’ Linda Cason (Bobby) of Newnan, Priscilla Letourneau (George), and a son Robbie Winkles (Debbie) of Sharpsburg, 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, Melissa Proctor niece of Sharpsburg, aunt Bert Cochran and nephews.
