Bobby Cole Windle, age 83, of Springhill Community, Carrollton, AL, died at Pickens County Medical Center in Carrollton on December 25, 2019.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 o'clock p.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2020, at Skelton Funeral Home in Reform with burial in the Springhill Baptist Church Cemetery. Pastor, Rev. Bert Noland and Rev. Ralph Windle, Jr. will officiate with Skelton Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be at 12:00 Noon and immediately following the service. No graveside service.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Cole Windle and Minnie Pate Windle, his brothers, Ralph Windle and Olin Windle, sisters, Jeweleen Burkhalter, Genia Billings, Laura Poole, and Dot Walters, his nephews David Poole, Troy Milton (Mickey) Poole, Jr., Victor (Vic) J. Parker, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Lesia Windle.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Gates Windle, son, Kerry Windle, daughter, Julie Windle Bryant, grandchildren, Christi Cole Bryant, Randall Bryant, Ashley Nicole Windle, and Tyronzia Johnson; great-grandchildren Kylan Horne-Bryant and Brooke Johnson; sister-in-law Katherine Windle, nieces and nephews, and beloved friend, Renato Costa.
Pallbearers will be nephews, Norman Burkhalter, Jr., Ronald Poole, Bennett Billings, Dennis Windle, Douglas Killough, and Tim Gates.
Honorary Pallbearers – Caretakers: Sheresa Woods, Vanessa Sledge, Mable Curry, Lois Mosley, Dominique Coleman, Cassandra Lanier; VAMC Home Based Primary Care Personnel, Tuscaloosa: Dr. Avinash Nichani Tamera Pryor, Michelle Davis, Pamela Burris, Wendy Skurka, Melissa Davis, and Preston Walthour; Dr. Mike Johnson of Tuscaloosa Dermatology, Heather McDonald of Amedisys Home Care; Staff of Pickens County Medical Center; and friends, James and Norma Wilson, Floyd Joyner and William Oglesby, Tranjula Hamilton and staff at West Alabama Agency for the Aged and members of Springhill Baptist Church.
Bobby excelled in sports in high school including baseball, football, and basketball. He continued playing baseball at Livingston State and in the U. S. Air Force where he served 4 years in Texas.
Following his time in service, Bobby and Bonnie returned to Alabama living in Aliceville, Tuscaloosa, and Moundville before returning to Carrollton in 1965. They moved to the farm at Springhill in 2012 and were living there at his death.
After service time, Bobby worked with Liberty National Life Insurance Company until he returned to Carrollton where he worked with Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. He joined his brother Ralph Windle in the Windle Department Store before beginning work as Windle Construction company in 1969. His construction experience began with his father-in-law Lafayette Gates and with schooling at Shelton State in Tuscaloosa. Son Kerry Windle joined his dad and granddaddy in construction work after graduation. The business of Windle Construction Company, Inc., has been continued by his only grandson, Randall Bryant, which delighted his granddaddy.
Bobby was saved in a revival led by Rev. Tom Collins and joined Carrollton Baptist Church in 1965 and then the Springhill Baptist Church in 2013. He will be buried in the Springhill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Family extends thanks and appreciation to all who have made this journey with us over the past five years.
It was Bobby's request that donations be made to the Missions and Benevolent Fund at Springhill Baptist Church, 586 Stinson Road, Carrollton, AL 35447, in lieu of flowers.